Nine Japanese Prime Ministers walked these very grounds. We stand before the former site of the First Higher School dormitory. This wasn’t just any school. It was the most prestigious higher school in pre-war Japan. The First Higher School. Think of it as the ultimate prep school for the University of Tokyo. Only the elite attended. Its students followed a well-trodden path. First middle school then the First Higher School. Finally the University of Tokyo. This path was known as Icchu-Ikko-Teidai.
Founded in 1886 the school was revolutionary. It offered a liberal arts education. This was a departure from specialized university training. The First Higher School focused on European languages. German French and English were vital. The University of Tokyo was the only university using these languages at the time. The school was modeled after colleges in the UK and the US.
The First Higher School dormitory was unique. From the 1890s onwards it embraced student self-governance. It also had a complete boarding system. Every student lived on campus. The dorm fostered a unique culture. This culture extended beyond academics. Students engaged in various activities. Literary societies debating clubs sports teams.
The school’s influence was profound. It shaped generations of leaders. Politicians scholars artists. Many prominent figures studied within its walls. The legacy of the First Higher School lives on. It became the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tokyo. This college still stands on the same Komaba Campus. The spirit of the First Higher School continues. Its emphasis on liberal arts education still resonates today. It shaped the elite who would shape the nation. Think of the prime ministers who walked here. They were shaped by this place. The First Higher School. A testament to a bygone era of Japanese education. An era of unparalleled prestige and influence.