Onkochishinjyuku Onkochishinjuku

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2025, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The final session of the Onkochishin Juku was held by Professor Takashi Fukaya, former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Mr. Fukaya and Tokushinkai Group Chairman Matsumura met by chance 11 years ago while watching sumo wrestling. Mr. Fukaya, who has an outstanding personality and life experience, wanted to "get in touch with his thoughts," so he started the Onkochishin Juku in 2016. It has been held monthly for the past 10 years.

On this day, as the final day, each student was presented with a diploma, followed by a speech of thanks from Chairman Matsumura. In his final speech, Professor Fukaya expressed his gratitude to the students, saying, "To teach is to learn. I myself have learned a lot through these 10 years of lectures." Finally, a commemorative photograph was taken of all the students, bringing to a close the 10-year Onkochishinjuku.

Although the Onkochishinjuku ended on this day, our group would like to continue to provide opportunities for many people to learn, both inside and outside the company.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2025, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.
In this Onkochishinjuku, we divided Fukaya Sensei's life from his birth to the present into four periods, and looked back on events happening in Japan and the world at each period in a dialogue with Tokushinkai Group Chairman Matsumura. This is the final installment of the series, and we asked him to look back on the period from the beginning of the Heisei era to his retirement from politics in 4.

Professor Fukaya first joined the Cabinet as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in 1990. Since then, he has held a number of important positions, including Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Minister of International Trade and Industry, and Chairman of the General Council of the Liberal Democratic Party. At the heart of the nation, he has confronted many events that have shaken the times, such as the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, the Tokyo subway sarin gas attack, the September XNUMX attacks in the United States, and the Great East Japan Earthquake.

In 2005, he received the Long Term Employment Award for his 25 years in office, and a portrait of him painted by Aki Yashiro was hung in the Diet. In 2010, he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun by the Emperor. Although he retired from politics in 2012, he continued to be one of the few "storytellers" of the prewar, wartime, and postwar period, actively participating in lectures and other events, and working hard to train the next generation of people.

Professor Fukaya says, "Even as the sunflower withers, it emits boundless, powerful energy before returning to the earth. I want to live out my natural life in that way." Looking back on his childhood, student days, and time as a politician, Professor Fukaya's way of life has always been one of boundless energy, and this Onkochishinjuku has taught me a great deal.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2025, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.
This season's Onkochishinjuku will divide Fukaya Sensei's life from his birth to the present into four periods, and he will look back on events happening in Japan and the world at each period in a dialogue with Tokushinkai Group Chairman Matsumura. The title of the session is "Exploring the history of modern Japan and the world with Fukaya Sensei."

This time, we asked him to look back on his life from when he was first elected to the ward assembly at the age of 1963 in 27 to 1989, when the Showa era ended.

Over the past 30 years or so, Professor Fukaya has had political dealings with many great people.
In addition to talking about outstanding Japanese leaders such as former Prime Ministers Yasuhiro Nakasone and Kakuei Tanaka, he also shared stories about former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who was nicknamed the "Iron Lady."
Professor Fukaya spoke about the various eras and the leaders who supported those eras from his perspective, and each of the students who aspire to become "leaders who support Japan" was able to learn a lot from this Onkochishin Juku.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2025, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.
This season's Onkochishinjuku will divide Fukaya Sensei's life from his birth to the present into four periods, and he will look back on events happening in Japan and the world at each period in a dialogue with Tokushinkai Group Chairman Matsumura. The title of the session is "Exploring the history of modern Japan and the world with Fukaya Sensei."

This time, we asked him to look back on his life from when he returned to Japan at the age of 11 after evacuation from Manchuria to when he was first elected to the ward assembly at the age of 27.

After repatriation, Mr. Fukaya lived in a room at Tanaka Elementary School where his relatives lived for three years, and then lived in a metropolitan housing complex. His father had told him around this time that he wanted to become a politician. Since then, he has been keeping a close eye on events happening around the world, such as the Korean War, the politics of Egyptian President Nasser, and the hydrogen bomb tests at Bikini Atoll.

Since he was in high school, he had a sign on his wall saying, "I will be a ward council member in my 20s, a metropolitan assembly member in my 30s, a member of the Diet in my 40s, a minister in my 50s, and rule the world in my 60s," and he was actively involved in activities such as debate clubs. During his university years, he worked part-time jobs to earn money for tuition, while also founding the All Japan Oratory Federation and becoming its representative director, steadily walking the path to becoming a politician.

Professor Fukaya has clarified his goals from a young age and has made systematic preparations and efforts, and his talk gave us some hints on how to make our dreams come true.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2025, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Now in its 10th year, this Onkochishinjuku will divide Professor Fukaya's life from his birth to the present into four periods, and look back on events happening in Japan and the world at each period in a dialogue with Tokushinkai Group Chairman Matsumura. The title of the talk will be "Exploring the history of modern Japan and the world with Professor Fukaya."

In this first episode, we asked Professor Fukaya to look back on the period leading up to the return from Manchuria, which was a major turning point in his life.

Professor Fukaya was born in Asakusa in 1935 and moved to Manchuria at the age of six in 1941. During this time, World War II began, and the Soviet Union invaded Manchuria in August 6. From then until his repatriation to Japan, he experienced an extremely harsh life.

When he arrived in Sasebo, Nagasaki after the long journey of repatriation, he shed tears, saying that he was glad to have a homeland called Japan. This experience was the beginning of his patriotism, and it was the trigger that made him want to serve his country as a politician.

He spoke of his thoughts as a storyteller from that time, saying that he hopes people will sometimes reflect on the feeling that "I'm glad we have a homeland," something that people today rarely have the opportunity to experience.

Once again, the Onkochishinjuku was a great opportunity for us to learn a lot from Professor Fukaya's valuable life experiences and the history of Japan and the world.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, Professor Fukaya talked about people who made an impression on him.

The first speaker was former Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka. He shared the story of how Tanaka, a man of great insight and foresight, gave him advice during the election campaign to "shake hands with 6 people," and how he went on to win the election with the most influence.

In addition, he introduced former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone and Ichiro Kono as dignified figures who could make the room tense just by being there. Although he lamented that there are fewer such fascinating politicians these days, he said that the experience of being able to come into close contact with such great figures was a great asset.

Finally, a graduation ceremony and commemorative photograph were held to conclude the 9th term. This term was also a very fruitful one.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, he talked about the "Bushido spirit."
"Bushido" was systematically spread to the world by Inazo Nitobe as an answer to the question, "Why do the Japanese have an excellent sense of morality even though they do not have a specific religion?"

He taught us about the seven virtues (righteousness, courage, benevolence, courtesy, faith and sincerity, honor, and loyalty) as qualities that a leader should possess, and also explained his view of life and death and aesthetic sense rooted in Buddhism.

As a work that expresses the Japanese aesthetic sense that finds charm in "transience," we were introduced to the poem by Professor Sakamura Makin, "Flowers have no sadness after they fall. All that remains is the joy of blooming single-mindedly." Professor Fukaya reflected on this poem when he lost an election and when he retired, reflecting on his life as a politician in which the only thing that remained was the "joy of blooming single-mindedly."

Through the "Bushido" spirit deeply rooted in the hearts of Japanese people, we were able to learn once again about what a leader should be like and what Professor Fukaya has valued in his career as a politician.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, Professor Fukaya looked back on his life so far based on the ancient Indian idea of ​​the four stages, which divides a 100-year life into four periods.

We asked him to look back in detail, with photographs, on his brilliant career, from his "student period" up to the age of 25, when he devoted himself to his studies and trained his body to hone the basic aspects of who he is; his "home-dwelling period" up to the age of 50, when he began as a ward councillor and played an active role as a member of the Diet; his "forest-dwelling period" up to the age of 75, when he held numerous positions as minister, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee; and finally his current "travelling period," during which he is devoting himself to nurturing the next generation of leaders.

At the end of the lecture, a passage from the German poet Samuel Ullmann's "Youth" was introduced: "Youth is not a period of life, but a state of mind." The Onkochishinjuku was full of life tips from Professor Fukaya, who is forever youthful and energetic.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were given a talk about the Tokyo Trials during the Greater East Asia War.

The Tokyo Trials, which were conducted under overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances with all 11 judges being on the side of the victorious nations, had a huge impact on Japan's view of history. He explained why such trials were held and how Japan's dignity was gradually restored after the one-sided verdict.

Now, all involved parties, including the presiding judge, have admitted that the trial was wrong, and there is no need for Japanese people to continue to hold a masochistic view of history. Professor Fukaya concluded the Onkochishinjuku with his hope that "each and every person in Japan will contribute to world peace with pride and confidence."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were given a talk about the Tokyo Trials during the Greater East Asia War.

The Tokyo Trials, which were conducted under overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances with all 11 judges being on the side of the victorious nations, had a huge impact on Japan's view of history. He explained why such trials were held and how Japan's dignity was gradually restored after the one-sided verdict.

Now, all involved parties, including the presiding judge, have admitted that the trial was wrong, and there is no need for Japanese people to continue to hold a masochistic view of history. Professor Fukaya concluded the Onkochishinjuku with his hope that "each and every person in Japan will contribute to world peace with pride and confidence."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, Professor Fukaya looked back on his life so far, sharing his feelings at each moment and the lessons he learned.

He began by sharing the story of his experience of returning from Manchuria, which sparked the birth of his patriotism, and then went on to talk about how he aspired to become a politician, and how he worked hard every day with a message posted on his wall: "I will be a ward council member in my 20s, a metropolitan assembly member in my 30s, a member of the National Diet in my 40s, a minister in my 50s, and I will rule the world in my 60s." He also talked about how, although he was defeated in elections, he believes that setbacks and failures should always be seen as opportunities.

His current enjoyment is telling young people about his journey so far, as he did today, and sending them the message that if you have the will, you can do anything, even from scratch.

This was a time when we were able to once again feel Professor Fukaya's thoughts for the next generation and the depth of his feelings for this school.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This time, Professor Fukaya talked about his experience of "repatriation from Manchuria," which strengthened his patriotism and inspired him to aspire to become a politician.

Due to his family's work, Professor Fukaya was in Harbin, Manchuria when the war ended. The stories he told of his experiences, from life under the Soviet Union's subsequent involvement in the war against Japan to his repatriation, were brutal. From Harbin to Japan, they travelled on freight trains on the mainland and on Japanese naval vessels across the Sea of ​​Japan, and on both journeys they were packed like sardines and had little food. Nevertheless, they all endured with love for their homeland, and when they finally reached Japan they apparently put their cheeks on the ground and cried. The patriotism that was strengthened there became the driving force behind Professor Fukaya's career as a politician.

At the end of the lecture, Professor Fukaya, who used his experience of "repatriation from Manchuria" as a starting point to realize his dream of becoming a politician, spoke about the importance of not just vaguely thinking "I want to be a politician," but of making concrete plans for how to realize one's ideals and principles.

Professor Fukaya's passionate message from a man who had a dream that he dreamed of after going through some harrowing experiences and made it a reality prompted each and every student to take a fresh look at how they should approach their own dreams and goals.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, Professor Fukaya, who has served as five ministers and has achieved many accomplishments, looked back on his political career from his first election.He then spoke about the wonderfulness of the Japanese people, which he would like to convey as he now devotes himself to nurturing the next generation.

Japanese people have many wonderful strengths, such as their orderly behavior when they wait in line for relief supplies during disasters, their ingenuity in mixing kanji with their unique kana writing system, and the development of women's culture through such pioneers as Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu.

Professor Fukaya said that he hopes that the students will now teach the next generation about the wonderfulness of Japanese people. He concluded the lecture by encouraging the students that learning and teaching will help them realize their own immaturity and lead to further study.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, under the theme of "The Form of Japan and the Japanese People," we were given a chance to explore the greatness of the country of Japan and the Japanese people along with their history.

The history of farming and rice cultivation in the face of harsh natural conditions, which dates back to the Yayoi period, shows that Japan is a "nation of diligence and perseverance," the Seventeen-Article Constitution of Prince Shotoku shows that Japan is a "nation that respects harmony," and the history of Japan weaving its own unique kana writing system into kanji characters and developing women's culture through such figures as Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu shows that it is a "nation of ingenuity and ingenuity."

On the other hand, they sounded the alarm about the current situation in which these Japanese virtues are declining, and reaffirmed that the students of Onkochishinjuku have a role to play as leaders who support Japan and spread the goodness of the Japanese people.

Just as the phrase "learn from the past to create something new" suggests, the Onkochishin Juku was filled with the message that we should rediscover the virtues that our ancestors have built up and create a new, proud Japanese people.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, the issue of not reporting political funds, which is currently causing a stir in the public, was mentioned. Although the Political Ethics Committee was held, the problem was not resolved, and Professor Fukaya questioned the existence of the Political Ethics Committee, which has no clear penalties or binding power.

He also touched on the issue of Japan's falling to fourth place in the world in GDP and the problem of population decline, and mentioned various approaches to solving these issues. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of nurturing patriotism, which is the foundation of everything. The students also shared their opinions on how to deal with patriotism in the modern era, and the discussion deepened with each other.

The seminar was an opportunity for each student to reexamine the various problems facing the country and their true nature.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were given a lecture on the concepts of "beginner's mind" and "flowers," which are discussed in "Fushikaden," a book left by the Noh master Zeami for future generations.

Many people tend to think of the word "beginner's mind" simply as "the initial feeling when starting something," but its original meaning is slightly different. There are many turning points in life, and at each stage we come up against various obstacles, such as changes in the mind and body and aging. The mindset required to overcome these challenges is what Zeami calls "beginner's mind."

When we say "That person has flowers," the "flowers" are often thought to refer to simply a person's gorgeous appearance or youth. However, this is different to the original meaning; Zeami taught that "flowers" are acquired through training, by overcoming one's "beginner's mind."

We were taught by Zeami that when faced with difficulties or old age, having the right mindset and fighting in the right way will, over and over, bring about true "flowers."

In addition, Professor Nakamura shared many other life lessons through Noh, making the lecture a highly detailed embodiment of the idea of ​​"learning from the past for the future."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2024, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Mr. Fukaya and our group's Chairman Matsumura met by chance while watching sumo wrestling, and were attracted by Mr. Fukaya's excellent personality and vast knowledge. They founded the Onkochishinjuku study group with the desire to "touch his throat" (to be so close that they could hear his throat). This year marks the 9th session of the Onkochishinjuku.

This was the first time that Professor Fukaya and our group's Chairman Matsumura shared the poems of Professor Sakamura Shinmin, who is highly respected by both of them, and they taught us various life lessons through the poems of this man. Onkochishinjuku has always valued "encounters" between people. He explained the importance of such "encounters and encounters" with the poem, "Because we only have one life, let us stop and gaze upon the dew of the morning glory, thinking of the wonder of encounters."

I look forward to learning a lot this term as well, and cherishing the encounters I have here to further strengthen the bonds I have with my fellow students as colleagues who will lead the next generation forward together.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This is the final episode of the term, and Professor Fukaya will be sharing events that have happened around him and the thoughts he has gained from them, incorporating words from classical Chinese.

First, Professor Fukaya introduced the phrase "A fleeting dream" (meaning that life is short and that rise and fall are fleeting) as something that has deeply touched him recently, and he preached about the importance of living every moment to the fullest.

He also introduced the following phrase, which he feels every year as he conducts the Onkochishinjuku, which will be in its ninth term in January next year: "After learning, you realize you lack something, and after teaching, you realize you are in trouble." The more you learn, the more you realize what you are lacking, and the phrase means that "teaching" and "learning" enhance each other's effectiveness.

At the end of the lecture, he gave us the words, "There is no distance, no closeness, no wind or frost in the distance." Once you meet and deepen your relationship, there is no distinction between near and far. He used these words, which mean that no matter how violent the wind blows or how hard the frost falls, he will be watching over you from anywhere, as his farewell greeting, and at the end, each student was presented with a graduation certificate.

This term, too, we were given a great deal of humorous instruction through history and current affairs, providing us with the knowledge we need to get through these difficult times, making it a very fruitful Onkochishinjuku session.

The Onkochishinjuku will be held for the 9th term next year, with a total of 1 sessions scheduled to be held on the third Monday of every month (3:18-30:19) starting in January. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, under the theme of "Life is full of joys and sorrows," the speaker spoke about sad partings and happy encounters in life.

He talked about the wonderfulness of a life blessed with good encounters, along with the famous words of philosopher Shinzo Mori: "Humans will definitely meet the people they are meant to meet in their lifetime. And not a moment too early, not a moment too late." From Professor Fukaya's way of living, who continues to spend fulfilling days surrounded by many good connections even after retiring from the front line, I also learned the importance of valuing the connections between people.

The monthly Onkochishinjuku classes are attended by people from a variety of backgrounds, and Professor Fukaya hopes that they will continue to grow by becoming a place for people to make good connections. The Onkochishinjuku classes have become a place where people can meet and reexamine how to deal with connections.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, Professor Fukaya, who will soon be celebrating his 88th birthday, looked back on his career so far.

With accompanying photographs, he looked back in detail on his life, from his harrowing experience of repatriating from Manchuria, his student days when he honed his public speaking skills while working part-time, to the twists and turns he faced in election campaigns beginning with his first election as a ward assemblyman at the age of 27, to his brilliant career in which he served as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, Minister of International Trade and Industry, and Chairman of the House of Representatives Budget Committee.

Even though he has retired, Professor Fukaya is still surrounded by many people who admire him and lead busy, fulfilling lives. This was the Onkochishinjuku where we were able to unravel the reasons for this and learn the wonderfulness of living a life surrounded by many people with dreams forever.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were given a talk about the Tokyo Trials during the Greater East Asia War.

The trial was conducted under overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances, with all 11 judges being on the side of the victorious nations, and all involved, including the presiding judge, now acknowledge that "the trial was wrong." They explained why such a trial was conducted and lamented the many victims who were found to be war criminals and executed at the end of the trial.

Following on from his previous lecture on the background of the Greater East Asia War, Professor Fukaya lamented the masochistic view of history that has been instilled in the Japanese people through the history of war. At the end of his lecture, he emphasized once again that "each and every person in Japan should contribute to world peace with pride and confidence," concluding the Onkochishinjuku for the day.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.
The theme of the day was "The Background of the Greater East Asia War," and we were given a detailed explanation of how the international community responded to Japan, which rose to prominence in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars, and how the war came to an end.

Throughout the lecture, Professor Fukaya emphasized that "war is not always caused by one side, but occurs as a result of a complex interplay of various factors." He also pointed out that defending a country in such circumstances is not a simple task.

Professor Fukaya has indicated his intention to continue to share his experiences and the ideal state of the country with the younger generation as a storyteller of the generation that experienced the war and worked hard for reconstruction. The students of Onkochishinjuku, who are being taught by Professor Fukaya, are expected to play the role of "leaders who support Japan." Each student who will be building the Japan of the future was reminded of the importance of "learning from the past" in order to realize peace.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, under the theme of "The Greatness of the Japanese People," he spoke about the excellent moral values ​​that Japanese people possess.

Professor Fukaya listed some of the good qualities of Japanese people as "politeness," "excellent moral values," "diligence and hard work," "creativity and ingenuity," and "aesthetic sense," and spoke in detail about these virtues that Japanese people possess, including specific anecdotes related to each of these.

On the other hand, Professor Fukaya sounded a warning about the current situation where the environment for teaching morality is decreasing. He concluded his lecture with words of encouragement, asking the students to once again recognize the good things about Japan and play their role in spreading that knowledge widely.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

The theme of the day was "The path to becoming a politician," and Professor Fukaya spoke about the path he took to become a politician and his 50-year career as a politician.

Professor Fukaya experienced the repatriation from Manchuria during his childhood. This brutal experience and the strengthened patriotism he felt when he arrived in Japan were the starting point for his ambition to become a politician.

He honed his oratory skills in the debate club since high school, and continued to work hard at university, participating in the oratory club and starting the All Japan Oratory Federation while working part-time. He was first elected to the Taito Ward Assembly at the age of 27, and after a brilliant career as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications and Minister of International Trade and Industry, he retired at the age of 77. He says that he experienced many disappointments during his 50-year political career, but he turned any adversity into energy and continued to work hard.

His thoughts on retirement overlapped with those of the poet Sakamura Shinmin's poem, "Flowers have no sadness after they wither, only the joy of blooming wholeheartedly remains." Through the career of Fukaya, a politician who continued to work hard with great ambition and who was ultimately left with only joy, Onkochishinjuku has taught us the wonderfulness of a life of single-mindedly pursuing one's dreams.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, he spoke about the recent unified local elections. He said that the percentage of uncontested winners in the recent prefectural assembly elections was the second highest in history. He sounded the alarm that this situation, which could lead to political distortion, is a crisis for the way democratic elections are conducted.

On the other hand, he also told us an episode about one of Professor Fukaya's students who fought well but unfortunately did not win. He said he was deeply impressed by the way the student passionately appealed to the public.

After talking about the tough election campaign, he introduced Sun Tzu's Art of War, which says, "He who has many plans will win, he who has few plans will not win," and "Do not fight if you have no chance of winning." He emphasized that dreams are not something to just have, but that if you do not draw a path to realizing them, they will remain just dreams.

On this day, the Onkochishinjuku session not only deepened our understanding of current affairs, but also provided hints for opening up the future from the teachings of our predecessors.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were introduced to the poem "Youth" by German-born poet Samuel Ullmann. This poem proclaims that "youth is the youth of the heart, and never grows old, even as we grow older." There are Japanese translations by various translators, but Professor Fukaya's favorite is the translation of the poem "What is Youth?" by the writer Mitsuru Arai.

Mr. Arai Mitsuru is also famous for his translation of the lyrics of "A Thousand Winds", which was covered by singer Masashi Akikawa and became a big hit. Professor Fukaya also shared an episode in which he quoted the poem "A Thousand Winds" when he stood up to ask questions at the Budget Committee during former Prime Minister Abe's first administration.

Finally, all the students recited "What is Youth?", and the class was a chance for all to reflect on the importance of having dreams and working sincerely towards achieving them.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we had a lecture on the theme of "Having a hobby."

Professor Fukaya has many hobbies, including tap dancing, sword dancing, diving, horse riding, karate, and skating. Professor Fukaya does not see hobbies as a way to kill time, but rather as something that one should make time for. This is because he believes that hobbies can lift one's spirits, encourage one's life, and be useful in one's work.

Many people say they don't have time for hobbies, but Professor Fukaya says that time is something you create. He showed us how successful people use their time effectively. Bill Gates emphasized that reading one hour a day equals 1 hours a year, Thatcher qualified as a lawyer while taking the time off to do housework and raise her children, and Churchill was also a first-class painter.

Professor Fukaya encouraged the students to use time effectively and to use it to energize their work, as everyone is given equal time. From the perspective of hobbies and time management, he unraveled the lifestyles of successful people, and gave us some hints for life.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2023, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Mr. Fukaya and our group's Chairman Matsumura met by chance while watching sumo wrestling, and were attracted by Mr. Fukaya's excellent personality and vast knowledge. They founded the Onkochishinjuku study group with the desire to "touch his throat" (to be so close that they could hear his throat). This year marks the 8th session of the Onkochishinjuku.

This was the first time, and Professor Fukaya and our group's Chairman Matsumura introduced us to some poems by Professor Sakamura Shinmin, who is highly respected by both Professor Fukaya and our group's Chairman Matsumura, and we were reminded that the name of the school, "Onko Chishin" (Learning from the past, learning from the new), is a passage from Confucius' "Analects." We learned that the reason Japanese people have cultivated such a strong sense of morality is because of the history of Japan adopting and developing the "Analects," which could be considered the national religion of China.

This term, too, I hope to learn many things through the Onkochishin Juku, and to gain the knowledge to navigate through these difficult times, as well as to strengthen the bonds between students as colleagues who will lead the next generation together.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

In the final lecture of the seventh term, we were introduced to the Imperial Rescript on Education, which fostered an ethical sense appropriate to Japan, and Nitobe Inazo's book Bushido.
Both of these teach the teachings of Japanese morality and have shaped the aesthetic and moral values ​​of the Japanese people to this day. I strongly felt that it is necessary to re-learn these things, especially now that the Japanese identity is gradually fading.

I also had the opportunity to watch a video of Professor Fukaya's speech in the Diet commemorating his 25 years in the Diet. His speech was filled with gratitude to his family and those around him, his determination to dedicate his life to his beloved Japan, and his passion to support Japan together with his fellow Diet members across party lines.

After the lecture, a graduation ceremony was held, marking the end of the 7th Onkochishinjuku course.
This term, too, we were given a wide-ranging and rich education through history and current affairs, with a touch of humor, making this a very dense Onkochishinjuku session.

The Onkochishinjuku will be held for the 8th term next year, with a total of 1 sessions scheduled to be held on the third Monday of every month (3:18-30:19) starting in January. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were able to explore the greatness of the country of Japan and the Japanese people, along with Japan's history.

The history of farming and rice cultivation in the face of harsh natural conditions, which dates back to the Yayoi period, shows that Japan is a "nation of diligence and perseverance," the Seventeen-Article Constitution of Prince Shotoku shows that Japan is a "nation that respects harmony," and the history of Japan weaving its own unique kana writing system into kanji characters and developing women's culture through such figures as Sei Shonagon and Murasaki Shikibu shows that it is a "nation of ingenuity and ingenuity."

On the other hand, they sounded the alarm about the current situation in which these Japanese virtues are declining, and reaffirmed that the students of Onkochishinjuku have a role to play as leaders who support Japan and spread the goodness of the Japanese people.

Just as the phrase "learn from the past to create something new" suggests, the Onkochishin Juku was filled with the message that we should rediscover the virtues built up by our predecessors and create anew a proud Japanese people.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

At the beginning, Professor Fukaya talked about his meeting with the governors of Oita, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki last month. He shared stories of his interactions with the three governors, the secret to the development of prefectural government, and his motto.

In the second half of the session, he continued on from the previous session and spoke about the issues surrounding the former Unification Church. He reaffirmed what "separation of church and state" means, and pointed out that the role of politics today is to deepen discussion on the appropriate form of religious organizations.

However, Professor Fukaya emphasized that what really needs to be discussed now is how to deal with a Taiwan emergency. He concluded his lecture with a sincere hope that the debate in the Diet will be based on "patriotism."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, he spoke about issues surrounding the former Unification Church and the state funeral.

First, with regard to politicians' interactions with religious organizations, it was clearly stated that they should not act as promoters of anti-social religious organizations.

He then reflected on former Prime Minister Abe's behavior and achievements in diplomacy. He said that a resolution to honor former Prime Minister Abe's achievements was passed in the U.S. Senate. He touched on the fact that there are many countries, regions, and organizations overseas that have expressed condolences, and that there is a gap between the sentiment for mourning in Japan and these countries.

The lecture concluded with the expectation that the students of Onkochishinjuku will be able to calmly respond to the various issues and events that people interpret differently, and lead Japan towards a brighter future.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This time, Professor Fukaya talked about his own experience of repatriation from Manchuria.

Due to his family's work, Professor Fukaya was in Harbin, Manchuria, when the war ended. The stories he told were brutal, covering his life under the Soviet Union's involvement in the war against Japan, and his subsequent repatriation. From Harbin to Japan, he traveled on a freight train on the continent, and on a Japanese naval ship across the Sea of ​​Japan, and on both journeys he was packed like sardines and had very little food.

However, along the way, she never complained, but instead looked to the future and remained optimistic.
"The luckier a person is, the more optimistic they are and the more they can do anything," says Professor Fukaya.

Professor Fukaya spoke about the original experience that inspired him to aspire to become a politician, and touched on the patriotism and resolve that it strengthened.At the Onkochishinjuku session, he also gave us some powerful encouragement to not give in to difficult times and to live positively.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

At the beginning of the event, all students observed a moment of silence in memory of former Prime Minister Abe, who passed away on July 7th.
Following the death of former Prime Minister Abe, Professor Fukaya introduced the words, "The matter is settled when the coffin is closed." This means that a person's true reputation is confirmed after they die, and he praised his achievements, saying that the number of flowers offered at the ceremony, which was so large that they could not all fit in the venue, spoke for itself.

During the lecture, he showed us videos and talked about episodes from the recent House of Councillors election and questions and answers in the Diet.

We asked Professor Fukaya to talk about the heat of the election campaign and how it is a battle of physical strength, along with a video of his campaign speech from the other day. It was very impressive to see Professor Fukaya giving such a powerful speech in the scorching heat.

We were also shown a video of Professor Fukaya's questioning in the Diet when he was in the opposition. The audience erupted in applause as Professor Fukaya, who was once known as a "militant," passionately and logically questioned the ruling party about their qualities as national leaders, and he ended his lecture with the words, "I have no regrets about my life as a politician."

This was an opportunity for the Onkochishinjuku to learn about the "determination" shown by the late former Prime Minister Abe and Professor Fukaya as politicians.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, the Greater East Asia WarHe spoke about the Tokyo Trials.

The trial was conducted under overwhelmingly unfavorable circumstances, with all 11 judges being on the side of the victorious nations, and all involved, including the presiding judge, now acknowledge that "the trial was wrong." They explained why such a trial was conducted and lamented the many victims who were found to be war criminals and executed at the end of the trial.

Following on from his previous lecture on the attack on Pearl Harbor, Professor Fukaya lamented the masochistic view of history that has been instilled in the Japanese people through their wartime history. At the end of his lecture, he emphasized once again that "Japan should contribute to world peace with pride and confidence," concluding the Onkochishinjuku.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held a seminar on learning from the past, led by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were given a lecture on the historical background of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The background to Japan's decision to attack Pearl Harbor was the so-called "Yellow Peril" theory, which was widespread among Western countries at the time, that posed a threat to the yellow race. Mr. Nakamura gave a detailed explanation of how the Yellow Peril theory, which arose as a sense of caution toward Japan, which had made its presence felt during the Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, spread throughout the international community and the impact it had on Japan.

This was an opportunity for the participants to learn about the background to the historical events that sparked the Greater East Asian War and to once again feel the importance of having a correct understanding of history.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Following on from last time, he gave a lecture on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

This time, Professor Fukaya emphasized once again three points in common between Ukraine and Japan.
The first is that it has abandoned nuclear weapons, the second is that it has an "exclusively defensive" stance, and the third is that it is not a member of any military alliances.

Professor Fukaya repeatedly emphasized that in order to prevent the feared emergency from occurring, we have reached a stage where we must find answers through "serious and concrete discussions" about how to deal with these systems, including the option of reviewing them.

This was an opportunity for us to once again consider in depth what it means to protect our own country.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 3

Venue: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, we were given a lecture on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In light of this series of problems, Professor Fukaya stated that the thing we should be most concerned about is the breach of the Budapest Memorandum. The Budapest Memorandum was a promise by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia to provide security for Ukraine on the condition that Ukraine abandon the nuclear weapons it possessed at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union. He sounded the alarm that we must take into consideration the possibility that such security arrangements could be breached in discussions on Article 9 of the Constitution and other issues.

He also praised President Zelenskyy for remaining in Ukraine despite threats to his life and continuing to fight without ever fleeing.

Professor Fukaya, who has been at the forefront of national politics, offered his unique perspective on the issues that are currently attracting the most attention in the world, and the Onkochishinjuku session provided an opportunity to deepen our consideration of how we should respond as Japanese people.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 2

Venue: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As in the previous event, the venue was divided into two floors as a COVID-19 countermeasure and social distancing was ensured.

On this day, we looked back on the achievements and personality of Shintaro Ishihara, who passed away on February 2st.

During his lifetime, Shintaro himself said, "When I die, everything will be boring," and Professor Fukaya says that this has truly come true. Shintaro wrote a book called "Genius" about Kakuei Tanaka, and in Professor Fukaya's eyes, Shintaro is the "genius."

The Onkochishinjuku class was a time when students mourned the passing of this "genius" who had many accomplishments, including suspending budgets for Korean schools that teach anti-Japanese education, efforts to purchase the Senkaku Islands, regulating diesel exhaust, hosting the Tokyo Marathon, and hosting the Tokyo Olympics. He was not only a governor of Tokyo with many accomplishments, but also an Akutagawa Prize-winning author and essayist.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2022, 1

Venue: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This was the first of the year for Onkochishinjuku, now in its seventh term, and as with last year, the venue was split onto two floors and social distancing was ensured as a COVID-7 countermeasure.

This time, Professor Fukaya and our group representative, Matsumura, introduced us to several poems by Professor Sakamura Shinmin, who is an admirer of both, and we were reminded that the name of the school, "Onko Chishin" (Learning from the past to find new things), is a line from Confucius' "Analects." We were told that the reason why Japanese people have cultivated such a strong sense of morality is because of the history of Japan adopting and developing the "Analects," which could be considered the national religion of China, in a Japanese way.

He also mentioned that the opportunity to start the school came when he met Matsumura, the representative of our group, by chance while watching sumo wrestling, and reiterated the importance of encounters and connections between people.

This term, too, I hope to learn many things through the Onkochishin Juku, and to gain the knowledge to navigate through these difficult times, as well as to strengthen the bonds between students as colleagues who will lead the next generation together.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The final Onkochishinjuku seminar of this term was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP Branch, Takashi Fukaya. As with the previous seminar, the seminar was held at a physical venue with thorough infection control measures.

To conclude this term, we have been asked to share two quotes from classical Chinese texts.

1. "After learning, one realizes one's shortcomings; after teaching, one realizes one's suffering."
→The more you learn, the more you realize what you are lacking, and "teaching" and "learning" enhance each other's effectiveness.

2. "Nothing is too far away, and there is wind and frost in the outskirts."
→ Once we meet and deepen our bond, there is no distinction between near and far. No matter how fierce the winds blow or how hard the frost, we will watch over you from wherever you are.

The farewell speech was the words "Nothing is too far away, and winds and frost may blow in the distance," and at the end, each student was presented with a graduation certificate.

This term, too, we were given a great deal of humorous instruction through history and current affairs, providing us with the knowledge we need to get through these difficult times, making it a very fruitful Onkochishinjuku session.


The Onkochishinjuku will be held for the 7th term next year, with a total of 1 sessions scheduled for the third Monday of every month (3:18-30:19) starting in January. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us using the details below.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held the 11th Onkochishinjuku seminar. Following on from the previous seminar, the seminar was held at a physical venue with thorough measures in place to prevent infection.

This time, Professor Fukaya, who has been active in politics, spoke about what went on behind the scenes of the first House of Representatives election since the Kishida administration took office, from his unique perspective.

In response to the recent spate of election defeats and problematic behavior among so-called "big name" politicians, we were introduced to the words of Laozi, "To retire after achievement is the way of heaven" (if you are successful, you should not stay in that position forever, but rather retire at a good time, which is the way of life that is in line with the way of heaven).

On the other hand, he sent words of encouragement and expectations to the second Kishida Cabinet, which has just been launched after the snap general election. Once again, this was a session that enriched my perspective on politics and elections.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held the 10th Onkochishinjuku. This was the first time in four months since June this year that the seminar participants gathered at the venue.

The first topic was about the COVID-19 vaccination and infection situation in each country. Although the number of infections is decreasing worldwide, students were urged to continue to be vigilant against a rebound and to take thorough measures against infection.

Next, Professor Fukaya introduced the recently inaugurated new Prime Minister, Kishida, from his unique perspective as a man who has been active in the political world. He shared many valuable stories about the Prime Minister's background, career, and personality, and we gained a deeper understanding of the new leader.

Through discussions of the decline in the number of infected people and the birth of a new prime minister, this Onkochishinjuku session allowed us to learn from Professor Fukaya's perspective on things at a time when the world is undergoing major changes.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The ninth Onkochishinjuku lecture by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya, was held in a recorded format.

On this day, he began by talking about the recently concluded Paralympics. He reflected on how he was deeply moved by the athletes' performances and felt that there was limitless potential, based on the wonderful philosophy of "Don't count what you've lost. Make the most of what remains."

Next, he spoke about the LDP presidential election. From his perspective as someone who actually knows the candidates, Professor Fukaya spoke about the characteristics of each candidate, from the honest and well-mannered Kishida, to the clear-sighted and fluent Takaichi, to the progressive Kono, who is known for his use of social media.

Finally, following on from the last session, Professor Fukaya spoke about his path to becoming a politician. Looking back on his first election as a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly with a massive 2 votes, and his first election as an independent member of the House of Representatives after leaving the Nakasone faction, he expressed his gratitude to his family, his seniors, and his supporters, who have always supported him.

Onkochishin Juku has always placed great importance on "encounters" from the very beginning, and on this day the students once again felt the importance of connections between people.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The ninth Onkochishinjuku lecture by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya, was held in a recorded format.

On this day, Professor Fukaya spoke about his path to becoming a politician. This topic is the subject of a request for Professor Fukaya to write about in the next issue of the monthly magazine, after his serialization of his "Manchurian repatriation experience" received such a great response.

All of the information he shared was extremely valuable, ranging from stories about club activities in middle and high school, to his activities in the oratory club in college, to part-time jobs.

His greatest achievement as a student was organizing a memorial service for the students who died in the Greater East Asia War. This episode also shows how his war experience is the driving force behind his various activities.

The COVID-19 pandemic has sometimes been likened to wartime, but Professor Ikeda concluded his lecture by emphasizing that in the fight against COVID-19, "we must never give up, even if it seems uncertain whether it will ever end."

Just like the last time, this time too, the Onkochishinjuku was energized by the persuasive words of Professor Fukaya, who has experienced the brutal war and made extraordinary efforts.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The ninth Onkochishinjuku lecture by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya, was held in a recorded format.

Due to the fact that a state of emergency has been declared in Tokyo again, the event will once again be recorded and streamed online.

This time, Professor Fukaya talked about his own experience of repatriation from Manchuria.

Professor Fukaya moved to Dalian, China during his childhood due to his family's work, and spent the end of the war in Harbin, Manchuria. The stories he told of his experiences during the Soviet Union's involvement in the war against Japan, up until his evacuation, were brutal.

The journey from Harbin to Japan took 4 days, a journey that would normally take four days, traveling on a freight train on the continent and on former Japanese military ships across the Sea of ​​Japan, and both journeys were packed like sardines and with little food.

However, they all endured because of their love for their homeland, and when they finally reached Japan, they laid their cheeks on the ground and cried.

The patriotism he developed there, the warm welcome he received along the roads in Nagasaki when he landed, and the gratitude he felt for the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Repatriation Assistance Agency, which had made desperate efforts to make the repatriation, which he called "the shortest and largest ethnic migration in human history," became the driving force behind Professor Fukaya's career as a politician.

This was an opportunity for us to ask ourselves what "homeland" means to us and whether we are living our lives to the fullest in the present.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The sixth Onkochishin Juku seminar of this term was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

For a long time, the event had been held in a recorded format, but on this day, the students were finally able to gather in person. This was the first time in about six months since December last year that the event was held in person, and the first time this season.

As in last year, the venue was divided into two floors and social distancing was ensured.

In the first half of the lecture, Professor Fukaya shared his opinions on the trends of various people and things during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the debate over the holding of the Olympics. In the second half, he delved deeper into the Greater East Asia War, which he had been talking about online so far this term, starting with the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the war.

He spoke poignantly about historical facts that must never be repeated, such as the existence of the "Yellow Peril" theory, a theory of a threat to the yellow race in white countries, and the background to the dropping of the atomic bomb, which took the lives of many non-combatants.

Once again, this was a chance for us as Japanese people to learn more about the history we need to know in order to look to the future in a positive way.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The fifth Onkochishinjuku lecture of this term was held in a recorded format by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Due to the fact that a state of emergency has been declared in Tokyo again, the event will once again be recorded and streamed online.

In the first half of the lecture, he spoke about recent trends surrounding COVID-19. He expressed concern about young people drinking on the streets, confusion surrounding vaccinations, and thoughtless behavior by people in positions of authority.

In the second half of the lecture, he introduced how, in response to the growing problem of hate crimes, Japan proposed the abolition of racial discrimination at the Paris Peace Conference after World War I. He described the fact that Japan made such a claim on the international stage as "a groundbreaking event in the history of mankind."

With these powerful words, he concluded his lecture, "If we are such wonderful Japanese people, I'm sure we can overcome this difficult situation." This year, the Onkochishin Juku was a source of encouragement for students who have yet to meet in person.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The fourth Onkochishinjuku lecture of this term was held in a recorded format by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

In response to the application of "priority measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19" in Tokyo, the event was once again recorded and streamed.

On this day, we had a lecture on the events leading up to the outbreak of the Greater East Asia War, which has been a topic of discussion several times. We were introduced to the fact that in the first stage, the First Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese military's deep sense of beauty and tolerance, which did not involve plundering or rape, surprised the white military observers.

So far this term we have not been able to gather all the students in person, but with each passing session the students' understanding of history and the greatness of the Japanese people has deepened.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The third Onkochishinjuku lecture of this term was held in a recorded format by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Due to the continued state of emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, this event will be recorded and streamed, just like the first and second events.

On this day, the lecture focused on the Tokyo Trials, including what kind of people were involved, how they were conducted, and how experts from various countries have viewed them.

Now, the US government and military leaders of that time have also rejected the Tokyo Trials, and Japan is expected to play a role in contributing to world peace with pride and confidence.

By gaining a correct and in-depth understanding of history, the Onkochishinjuku program helped participants to reaffirm the role Japan should play in the international community.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The second Onkochishinjuku lecture of this term was held in a recorded format by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

In response to the state of emergency declared in response to the spread of COVID-19, the first and second sessions of this term's Onkochishinjuku will be recorded and streamed online to deliver to students.

On this day, we were given lectures on current issues both at home and abroad.

Regarding domestic topics, the Prime Minister mentioned the series of events surrounding the selection of the chairman of the Olympic Organizing Committee, and offered his support to Mr. Hashimoto, who is "picking up chestnuts from a fire."

Regarding overseas, he spoke about the influence of developed countries in the WHO, which is investigating the source of the COVID-19 outbreak and taking other measures, and the WTO, another international organization. He expressed his hope that Japan's voice and ability to convey information on the international stage will become even stronger in the future.

The "Five Pledges" that state the purpose of Onkochishinjuku include the declaration, "We will become leaders who support Japan." It was a great opportunity to confirm the current situation both at home and abroad, and to think deeply about the future prospects, with an eye on playing an active role in the international community.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2021, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

A recorded version of the Onkochishinjuku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo LDP Branch, Mr. Takashi Fukaya.

In response to the state of emergency declared in response to the spread of COVID-19, the first and second sessions of this term's Onkochishinjuku will be recorded and streamed online to deliver to students.

On this first day of the term, he once again spoke about the purpose of Onkochishin Juku. He explained that "Onkochishin" is a phrase from the Analects of Confucius, that the opportunity to start the school came from a chance encounter with Tokushinkai Group Chairman Matsumura while watching sumo, and that he wants Onkochishin Juku to be a school that cherishes the encounters and connections between people like this.

This term, we hope to learn many things through the Onkochishin Juku, and will arm ourselves with the strength to navigate through difficult times and strengthen the bonds we form among our fellow students as we lead the next generation together.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The final Onkochishinjuku of the year was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As a countermeasure against the coronavirus, the venue was divided into two floors and social distancing was ensured on this day.

In this final episode, we were introduced to various words that enrich life and education. In honor of the year that has passed in the blink of an eye, we were introduced to the traditional idiom "Ichi-sui no yume" (a dream of a single bite), and from the title of the monthly magazine serialization to be started next year by Professor Fukaya, named by our group representative Matsumura, we were introduced to the four-character idiom "Ichi-sui no yume" (one word, nine trips).

A fleeting dream: Life is short, and ups and downs are fleeting.
One Word, Nine Trials: Meaning to reassure and inspire others with words that touch their hearts.

Finally, Professor Fukaya spoke about the importance of having dreams and hobbies no matter how old you are in life, along with his motto, "The joy of living in pursuit of your dreams," and concluded this term's Onkochishin Juku.

After the lecture, a graduation ceremony was held and a representative student was presented with a certificate by Professor Fukaya.

This term, too, we were taught broad and rich knowledge through history and current affairs, with a touch of humor. Although the number of classes was fewer than usual due to the influence of the coronavirus, it was a very intensive Onkochishinjuku session.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As a countermeasure against the coronavirus, the venue was divided into two floors and social distancing was ensured on this day.

This time, we learned about the history and climate of each region while listening to Professor Fukaya share photos and stories from his trip around the Tohoku region.

First, he talked about the Shonai Domain School "Chidokan" in Yamagata Prefecture. He taught us about domain schools, terakoya schools, and the history of education in Japan from the start of the education system in 5 to the present day.
In the episode about Iwate Prefecture, he talked about his visit to the Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum. He explained the background of the famous poem "Ame ni mo Makezu" while showing us photos of the place.
Akita Prefecture is in a frenzy over the birth of Prime Minister Suga, who is from the prefecture, and Professor Fukaya spoke about Prime Minister Suga's perspective. Apparently, Prime Minister Suga commuted two hours to school during his high school days, and Professor Fukaya said, "Living in Akita is where his tenacity began."

We heard stories of their travels, visiting various regions and famous places and experiencing the history and culture of each place, making this a fulfilling and educational day at Onkochishinjuku.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As a countermeasure against the coronavirus, the venue was divided into two floors and social distancing was ensured on this day.

First, he talked about his memories of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, whose funeral was held recently. He talked about how while Nakasone was very considerate of Professor Fukaya during his time as a Diet member, there were also times when he rebelled against him, how Nakasone always encouraged him to read books, and how Nakasone always encouraged him to live his short life to the fullest, citing the haiku "Even as the night falls, the cicadas still sing as long as they can."

He also spoke about the new Prime Minister, Suga, who has just started his term, and expressed high expectations for his future progress.

Professor Fukaya has witnessed the lives of great people up close, and from his unique perspective, he provided many valuable pieces of wisdom and hints for the students who will be responsible for Japan's future.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As a countermeasure against the coronavirus, the venue was divided into two floors and social distancing was ensured on this day.

This time, he gave a lecture on Prime Minister Abe's progress so far. He listed the accomplishments he has made during his term, the longest in the history of constitutional government, such as Abenomics, the passage of the National Referendum Act, the approval of the exercise of the right of collective self-defense, and his stance in the international community. He also expressed his intention to keep a close eye on the future of Prime Minister Suga, who has inherited Abe's will.

In particular, he emphasized the importance of diplomacy and praised the trust he has earned from leaders of various countries in the international community.

With Japan facing a major turning point, this Onkochishinjuku was an opportunity to reconsider the importance of having a perspective that goes beyond politics and asks us whether we can compete in the international community.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As a countermeasure against the coronavirus, the venue was divided into two floors and social distancing was ensured on this day.

This time, we were introduced to various proverbs and the achievements of great people through the lens of recent social trends.

At the beginning, he looked back on the wonderful life of Tetsuya Watari, who recently passed away, and taught us the expression, "The matter is settled once the coffin is closed." He said that this means that a person's true worth is decided once again after death, and that we should strive to live a worthwhile life like Tetsuya Watari.

He also gave us information about Taiwan, which has been able to keep the number of coronavirus infections low, and the achievements of the great former leader Lee Teng-hui, and Goto Shinpei, who established public health in Taiwan and created the foundation for today's epidemic prevention measures.

Once again, through the wisdom, words, and lifestyles of our predecessors, we learned about the path we should take and the mindset we should adopt in modern society, making this a lecture that embodied the idea of ​​"learning from the past for the future."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As with the previous event, measures were taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus, such as dividing the venue into two floors.

This time, he gave a lecture on the recent Tokyo gubernatorial election and the coronavirus issue.

Regarding elections, he cited Washington State as a good example and expressed his view that it is necessary to further improve the quality of candidates and their campaign promises.

In terms of COVID-19 countermeasures, he expressed the view that the best way to improve the situation would be to strengthen enforcement against facilities that are producing a large number of infections and to add at least one line to the Constitution regarding special measures in times of emergency.

Finally, he concluded his lecture by saying that what he found most gratifying was that the Onkochishinjuku was being held even under these circumstances and that he was able to meet the students. Following on from the previous lecture, the students once again felt the value of having the opportunity to learn.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

As a measure against the spread of COVID-2, we asked all participants to take their temperature and wear masks. We also took measures to reduce the density of participants by dividing the venue into two floors and using one floor for monitor sessions.

This was the first event in three months, and we were given a variety of trivia related to the coronavirus outbreak.

I learned that wearing masks became widespread in Japan during the Spanish Flu epidemic. At the time, the Taisho Democracy was in full swing, and various movements were taking place in the "three Cs." Wearing masks was suggested as a measure against this.

I was also told that "Kawasaki disease," which has become a hot topic in relation to the coronavirus, is not named after the place Kawasaki but after a researcher. This naming system is apparently the same for Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

We were also told about the effectiveness of hand washing in Japan. The tap water in Japan contains chlorine, which is said to be effective against viruses.

He taught us a lot of trivia like this, hoping that we would become a "Walking Dictionary." In addition to this "wisdom," he said that the students should be proud of embodying the "Japan Model," and concluded his lecture with a powerful message that he hopes they will "become leaders who support Japan."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

While he was concerned about the response of each country to the coronavirus, he said that we should not only focus on gloomy topics, and in the second half of the talk, he talked about his diverse hobbies. Professor Fukaya has many hobbies, including karate, sword fighting, tap dancing, diving, and skating. Despite his busy schedule, he has a wide range of hobbies and is, needless to say, well-educated.

People often say to me, "You have so much time," but I've learned that saying "I don't have time" is a lie or an excuse, and that time is something you "make."

I wanted to make time outside of my main job and actively engage in activities that enrich my world. Also, while I often make excuses like "I don't have time" in my daily work, I wanted to get into the habit of thinking about how I can "make" time by going back to the bigger picture of "why I'm doing it."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2020, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Our group representative, Matsumura, and Professor Fukaya met by chance while watching sumo wrestling. Attracted by his excellent personality and vast knowledge, they established Onkochishinjuku, a study group where they could "get intimate with him." This year marks the fifth session.

On this first day, Matsumura spoke about the wonderfulness of "encounters" through the poetry of Professor Sakamura Min, an object of mutual respect.

At the same time, I learned that whether we make the most of a wonderful "encounter" or not, we must have the determination to "always do what we say we will do" and "act immediately," just as when Matsumura called out to Professor Fukaya and made an appointment to meet again.

Finally, he touched on the fact that Japan has developed into a unique country by incorporating various external ideas and cultures, and concluded the first session by reaffirming that Onkochishinjuku is also a place to absorb various ideas and wisdom from throughout history.

I hope to learn well this year and make it a fruitful one.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This was the final lecture of the fourth term, and the lecture focused on the life of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who recently passed away at the age of 4.

He introduced us to a haiku poem that was treasured by former Prime Minister Nakasone, "Even as the sun sets, the cicadas continue to sing for the rest of their lives." The poem expresses the mindset that a politician's life is as short as a cicada's, but like a cicada that sings for the rest of its life, one should continue to shout out as a politician with as much patriotism and as much strength as possible. Professor Fukaya raised the question from various perspectives as to whether today's politicians have that mindset.

After completing a year of lectures, Professor Fukaya feels that the Book of Rites, one of the Five Classics, teaches that the more you learn, the more you understand what you are lacking, and that teaching and learning enhance each other's effectiveness.

Finally, Matsumura, the representative of our group, reflected that the one-year lectures had been more meaningful than reading dozens of books, and this year's Onkochishinjuku came to a close.

This year was another very fruitful one for all the students as they participated in intensive learning sessions once a month.


The Onkochishin Juku will be held for the fifth term next year, with a total of 5 sessions scheduled to be held on the third Monday of every month (1:3-18:30) starting in January.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Today, following on from last time, Professor Fukaya gave a lecture on the topic of his recent trip to Ise and Koyasan.

Today's content was packed with content, including stories about the Nara Hotel, the leading guest house in the Kansai region built in response to the increase in foreign visitors to Japan after Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War; Eifuku-ji Temple in Osaka, which protects Prince Shotoku; Mount Koya, which is associated with Saicho and Kukai; and its magnificent temple lodgings, Fumon-in, and the inner sanctuary, which houses the memorial tower of Tokushin.

The most impressive story was Prince Shotoku's. He showed us that when we unravel the 17-article constitution, we find that all of its contents are still relevant today. Professor Fukaya emphasized that "important matters should not be decided by one person alone." Similar content is included in the Five Articles of the Imperial Oath, which was created later, and he said that in this way we can see the consistency of the history of the Japanese people, which is based on the Emperor system.

I was reminded that there are universal principles that do not change even as times change. I want us to continue to walk the path we should walk as human beings, without wavering.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Today, Professor Fukaya gave a lecture on the topic of his recent trip to Ise and Koyasan.

Among the stories of his fulfilling trip, including his stay at the hotel where the Ise-Shima Summit was held and his visit to Ise Shrine, the most memorable was his visit to the Motoori Norinaga Memorial Museum.

Motoori Norinaga studied medicine, Chinese classics, and Japanese classics in Kyoto, and wrote the Kojiki. Kamo no Mabuchi, whom Motoori Norinaga looked up to as his teacher, is said to have said, "In learning, the foundations are important. By starting from low places, you can rise to high places."

Norinaga Motoori never met Mabuchi Kamo even once in his life. In an era when mass media was not as developed as it is today, the story of him deepening his learning by looking to a person he had never met as his "spiritual teacher" really seems to me to be a message about the need to return to the basics of scholarship and the attitude towards learning.

Although what we were able to hear today was only the first half of their four-day, three-night trip, it was packed with so much information and it was hard to believe it was only a small part of the entire trip.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

Today, like last time, the lecture was on the theme of "The Nature of Life - Zeami's Philosophy of Life."

First, in the review from the previous lesson, we learned that "you should never forget your beginner's mind." Zeami's "beginner's mind" refers to the strategy and mental attitude required to overcome trials. It is not "stay young in mind and body," but rather the idea of ​​how to overcome limitations, how to blossom, and what kind of results you should achieve at each moment that corresponds to Zeami's "beginner's mind."

Not only Zeami, but also the Four Stages of Life in ancient India and the Analects of Confucius divide life into several stages and explain how to live at each stage.

Also, yesterday, September 9th, Professor Fukaya celebrated his 29th birthday, and on that occasion he introduced us to the phrase "a fleeting dream," which is used as an analogy for the transience of life.

We tend to think that life is long and waste time. However, our great ancestors show us the transience of each moment of life and how to live each moment. I once again felt that I should learn from the teachings of my ancestors and put them into practice while I am young, and that I do not want to live a life where I shed tears of regret when I am old.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, he gave a lecture on the theme of "Zeami's philosophy of life."

Zeami was the man who perfected Noh as an art form, and was also the first to utter the phrase "Never forget your beginner's mind." However, the true meaning of this phrase is not widely known. In this article, we learned about the true meaning of the "beginner's mind" that Zeami preached.

Many people tend to think of "beginner's mind" as "the determination when starting something" and "a momentary feeling," but the "beginner's mind" that Zeami advocated occurs multiple times in our lives. We encounter various trials and obstacles at various times in our lives. During adolescence, our voices change, and as we grow older, aging makes it difficult to fight the way we used to. The "beginner's mind" that Zeami advocated is how we prepare ourselves when we encounter such trials. And Zeami's teaching is that when we overcome the difficulties that come at each stage of life, beautiful "flowers" (the radiance of a Noh actor) will bloom.

He taught us that when times are difficult, it is important to never give up, to seek out ways to deal with each situation, and to work hard with determination. So far, we have been introduced to the lives of many great predecessors, but this time, we were able to learn about their "philosophy of life" directly, and I think that this was a slightly different "Learning from the past" for each student.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This time, as in the previous session, the lecture began with a discussion of current affairs, and then Professor Fukaya spoke about a lecture he gave at a university in the Kansai region at the end of last month.

First, he mentioned Prime Minister Abe's visit to Iraq, saying that his dialogue with Ayatollah Khamenei should be evaluated as a major achievement, as it provided a very important forum for negotiations regarding the supply of oil and LNG to Japan, which has a low energy self-sufficiency rate.

He also mentioned the pension system, and warned that the phrase "peace of mind for 100 years" means "a wonderful system that will last for 100 years as a means of sending money to future generations," and that this should not be misunderstood as "something that will cover all living expenses in old age."

At the end of last month, he gave a lecture at a university, in which he talked about his work at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. He said that people there worked so hard that they were called the "Ministry of Regular Overtime."

The thing he felt most strongly in his conversations with students was that they didn't know much about politicians or historical figures. The reason behind this is the trend of young people turning away from newspapers. In such an age, reading is important to acquire culture, and he taught us the ways of reading books: "close reading," "thorough reading," "gradual reading," and "irregular reading." Finally, he even gave us a humorous comment that "tsundoku" is not a good word to use.

The Onkochishinjuku provided an opportunity for us to think again about the issues we must keep in mind as leaders who will support Japan in the future.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This time, we asked Professor Fukaya to introduce us to three particularly memorable events that have happened around him in the month since our last interview.

One of them is the unified local elections. He talked about his own election career through supporting elections. What he learned from interacting with various people through elections is summed up in a passage from Hong Zicheng's essay collection "Caigentan": "Gifts should be light, not strong. If you put strong first and light later, people will forget the favor." The meaning of this is that "in human relationships, it is important to gradually increase the intensity." He said that if you get too close from the beginning, you won't be able to build a good relationship.

The second big event that happened to Professor Fukaya was when he was attacked by tinnitus. He says that it was a very painful experience. However, in the midst of this suffering, he received many words of concern, encouragement and advice from his friends, and a certain passage from the Analects of Confucius resonated with him. It is "Do not make friends with those who are not as good as you", which apparently means that "you should make friends with people who are better than you". He says that he realized that friends who have experience and wisdom that he does not have will help him when he is in trouble.

And the biggest event that happened to Professor Fukaya in the past month was, without a doubt, the Emperor's abdication. Hearing about the reason why abdication has not occurred since the Meiji era, and about the one-year mourning period when Emperor Showa passed away, I was reminded of the deep feelings and thoughts of the former Emperor towards the people.

Once again, this was a very fulfilling Onkochishinjuku day, filled with rich learning and Professor Fukaya's humor.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This was the first Onkochishinjuku session since the new era name was announced, and we touched on "Reiwa" and concluded our discussion of "Bushido" at this new turning point.

The Man'yoshu, from which the name "Reiwa" is derived, is a collection of poems that includes poems from all social classes, from the Emperor to the common people. I was told that it is a unique collection of poems that values ​​the hearts of all people and is a source of pride for Japanese culture.

The talk on "Bushido" began with the story of Takakeisho-seki, who gave a speech that began with "valuing the samurai spirit...". The "Kagesho" in Takakeisho-seki is said to be the name of the successor to Uesugi Kenshin, a man of the samurai spirit who sent salt to the enemy camp. After hearing this speech, Professor Fukaya seems to have fallen in love with Takakeisho-seki.

Finally, we learned about cultural figures who expressed the Japanese aesthetic sense rooted in the samurai spirit. We were introduced to the excellent aesthetic sensibilities of many such figures as Sakamura Shinmin, who sang, "There is no sadness for a flower after it has withered. All that remains is the joy of blooming wholeheartedly," Kawabata Yasunari, who described the beautiful moment of his youth when he met a dancer from Izu, and Kobayashi Hideo, who spoke of the Japanese sense of awe towards nature as they gazed upon the moon in rapt rapture.

Just as Nitobe Inazo predicted 120 years ago, the samurai spirit and Japanese aesthetic sense are currently in decline. However, I learned that by deepening my learning at Onkochishinjuku and conveying it to as many people as possible, we can make "Reiwa" a joyful and beautiful era, as its name suggests. As a student, I would like to become someone who can reaffirm, nurture, and pass on the samurai spirit.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

On this day, Chairman Kara Matsuaki of Chongyou Industrial (Taiwan's largest elevator and escalator construction company), who Chairman Matsumura and Professor Fukaya became acquainted with during a lecture in Taiwan at the end of last year, also attended and gave a talk about Taiwan in the first half of the seminar.

Chairman Tang introduced us to a wide range of topics, including Taiwan's geography, politics, economy, and culture. What was impressive was that some people consider themselves "Chinese" and others "Taiwanese and Chinese," and that national consciousness changes depending on the government. It was very interesting to learn about such complex national consciousness, as it is rare to have the opportunity to experience it while living in Japan.

During the lecture, Toshiro Tada, former president of Japan Airlines Taiwan, who accompanied Chairman Tang on his visit to Japan, introduced Taiwan from a Japanese perspective. He introduced the national character of Taiwan, which he said is "valuing family," and I felt that this is something we should all learn from.

In the second half of the lecture, Professor Fukaya spoke about Bushido, a Japanese form of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shintoism that also influenced Taiwanese moral values. He again taught us about the samurai's view of life and death and the seven virtues (righteousness, courage, benevolence, courtesy, faith and sincerity, honor, and loyalty).

We received very valuable and in-depth lectures from the three speakers, making this a very meaningful Onkochishinjuku.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. This time, he continued his talk on the WTO from the previous session.

On this day, we learned many surprising aspects of the historic negotiations, behind the scenes. When the negotiations were going well thanks to Professor Fukaya's skill, President Clinton, who was not convinced, called Prime Minister Obuchi. The Japanese side saw the situation and played hooky. That is how diplomacy is like threading a needle.

Furthermore, during the final negotiations, Professor Fukaya used his skills in foreseeing the future and constructing a negotiating story, which he had honed during his time in the opposition party, and his angry shouting that overwhelmed his opponents, to make America give up. As a result, America declared the outcome of the talks to be "no conclusion was reached," but this was a very interesting lecture that once again gave us a glimpse of Professor Fukaya's "careful yet bold" side.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2019, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held the Onkochishinjuku. Now in its fourth year, the Onkochishinjuku covers a wide range of topics, including: 4) current affairs, XNUMX) learning about Japanese virtues from history, XNUMX) the shape of countries around the world, and XNUMX) how to live life.

On this day, which was the first session of the term, Professor Fukaya spoke about the WTO. In a TV program that Professor Fukaya appeared on at the end of last year, it was discussed that the signs of President Trump's rejection of globalization were there as early as the WTO conference 1 years ago. The person who negotiated the WTO was Professor Fukaya, who was the Minister of International Trade and Industry at the time.

Japan then negotiated with the United States to strengthen regulations to prevent the abuse of anti-dumping regulations. Professor Fukaya, who knew that the United States would not take him seriously, held extensive "bilateral talks" (one-on-one meetings) with the other participating countries to shape international opinion before going into the negotiations. It seems that the negotiating techniques that only Professor Fukaya, who hails from the downtown area, could employ were effective.

At the beginning of the seminar, our group's president, Matsumura, introduced Professor Fukaya as a professor who he liked more and more the more he met him. He also described his charm as "bold yet meticulous, intelligent yet down-to-earth." I felt that the WTO negotiations were exactly the moment when Professor Fukaya's greatness moved the world.

From the very first session, he has given us valuable stories of his experiences on the international stage as well as hints for life, making this a very fruitful Onkochishinjuku. We hope to hear more about this story in the next session.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held the Onkochishinjuku seminar. This was the last session of the third period, but Professor Fukaya closed the session with his usual captivating talk.

The major themes discussed over the past year have been "the mindset needed for life" and "the value of encounters."

Professor Sakamura Min taught us about the mindset for life through his poems. "If you wish for it, the flowers will bloom" taught us that if we keep wishing for it and keep working hard, our dreams will come true, and "Stacking it all together" taught us the importance of patience and daily accumulation in everything.

Regarding "encounters," he reiterated the importance of one's parents as the first people one meets in life, and then taught us the importance of "connections" based on the words of Mori Shinzo Sensei, "You will definitely meet the people you are meant to meet in your lifetime," as well as the Yagyu Shinkage-ryu family precept that says the greater a person is, the more they make use of "connections."

In closing, Professor Fukaya expressed his sadness at the short separation from the current class of students, but gave some powerful words, encouraging them to continue to improve each other's lives through the Onkochishin Juku next class.

This year was another very fruitful one for all the students as they participated in intensive learning sessions once a month.

The Onkochishin Juku will be held for the fifth term next year, with a total of 4 sessions scheduled to be held on the third Monday of every month (1:3-18:30) starting in January.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. Following on from the previous seminar, the theme was "The Importance of Encounters," and this time, Professor Fukaya shared stories about some of his most memorable politicians.

Ichiro Kono, who negotiated the Japan-Soviet Peace Treaty, was said to have been very impressed by his bullish stance toward Soviet First Secretary of the Communist Party, Khrushchev, and his famous quote, "I can't do anything about the wind that blows down from Mount Fuji, but I will blow away the wind that blows against me."

Professor Fukaya praised Kakuei Tanaka, who was thorough in his attitude of taking responsibility for decisions, execution, and results, saying, "I have never seen such an intelligent person." I was impressed by the episode where he encouraged him when he was feeling down and cried.

Yasuhiro Nakasone, who had been in many fights, is said to have attended the Diet for the first time in mourning clothes. He was said to have embodied the attitude of working while keeping in mind the feelings of the people grieving under the occupation of their homeland.

He also told us many other stories about politicians. Professor Fukaya has seen many great people up close, and we have heard many stories from him before, but I have never been so overwhelmed by the wealth of information he shared with us today.

I was reminded of the importance of encounters and chance encounters, and I would like to incorporate what I have learned from the politicians who have had such a major influence on Professor Fukaya's political career into my daily efforts.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held the Onkochishinjuku seminar. This was the 10th session, and the theme of the seminar was "The Importance of Encounters," in which he spoke about the memorable people he has met.

The first thing he talked about was his own father, who discovered his talents and abilities, watched over him, and supported him more than anyone else.

The story of Keizo Saji was also impressive. As the second generation president of Suntory, Saji was a man who actively sought to give back to society through his profits. He established the Suntory Museum of Art and other museums in an effort to give back to society through culture.

There are many people in the entertainment industry who have fond memories of Professor Fukaya. They include composer Shunichi Tokura, who introduced Professor Fukaya to his tap dance teacher, Yujiro Ishihara, the younger brother of Shintaro Ishihara, for whom Professor Fukaya served as an advisor, Shintaro Katsu, an outlaw who lived a reckless life, and Aki Yashiro, who sent Professor Fukaya a portrait on the 25th anniversary of his inauguration as a member of parliament.

As he gets older, he feels more and more deeply the importance of these encounters. However, he also said that meeting many people also means parting ways with many people, which was very striking.

The Onkochishin Juku was also filled with encouragement from Professor Fukaya, who encouraged us to live our lives while savoring both the joy of new encounters and the pain of parting.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from the past. This time, he spoke in detail about "Bushido," which was mentioned in the previous article.

Bushido is a code of conduct created and developed by samurai.
It was Nitobe Inazo who brought this to the public in a systematic form in his book "Bushido." In response to a question posed by a Belgian legal scholar, "Why is morality established in Japan without a specific religion?" Nitobe Inazo is said to have answered, "Because of Bushido."

It seems that Bushido and morality were strongly influenced by Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism. At its root is the philosophical view that everything is constantly changing and nothing is eternal, the concept of "impermanence," and the resulting appreciation of all things, the concept of "mono no aware."

This is clearly reflected in the Japanese sense of beauty. While Westerners prefer roses, the symbol of Bushido is the cherry blossom. While roses have a strong fragrance and make a strong presence, cherry blossoms have a faint fragrance and fall gracefully.
Like the cherry blossom, the spirit of Bushido will never remain firmly in existence, but it is said at the beginning of "Bushido" that it will remain modestly in the hearts of the Japanese people.

In light of the recent scandals in the world of sports, Professor Fukaya is concerned that people are losing their sense of morality. He concluded his lecture by expressing his heartfelt hope that the samurai spirit that lives in the hearts of Japanese people will be reexamined and re-educated.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The Onkochishin Juku seminar was held by former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya.

This time, he gave a lecture about recent scandals in the sports world.
Starting with the power harassment scandal involving wrestler Icho Kaori, followed by the vicious tackle by Nihon University's American football team and allegations of misappropriation of subsidies by the Japan Boxing Federation, one scandal after another has come to light in the sports world.

Among other issues, Professor Fukaya strongly criticized sports leaders for having ties with anti-social forces.

The biggest problem is that a scandal has come to light even in the world of martial arts, where etiquette and courtesy are highly valued: the issue of monetary payments in iaido promotions in the All Japan Kendo Federation.

The reason why morality exists in Japan even though it does not have a specific religion is because the "Bushido spirit" is deeply rooted in the country. This "Bushido spirit" was spread to the world by Inazo Nitobe. Mr. Fukaya, who holds a 6th dan in karate, is said to have also devoted himself to teaching children etiquette and manners through karate.

Professor Fukaya strongly stated that in order to reform the current turbulent sports world, it is necessary to re-educate people in the "samurai spirit."
We must truly embody the idea of ​​"learning from the past" by cherishing old traditions and opening up the future.

As a student, I would like to take another look at the "Bushido spirit."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. This time, he gave a lecture on the theme of "North Korea Issues."

It has been about a month since you last spoke about the US-North Korea summit, but Professor Fukaya believes that not much has been achieved. He said he would like to closely watch how both President Trump, who cannot hide his frustration about this, and President Kim, who is frustrated by the lack of economic policy under economic sanctions, will act in the future.

He also spoke about relations between Japan and North Korea, questioning not only the lack of progress on the abduction issue, but also the demand for compensation for the period of Japanese rule.

Japan is in a critical situation where we don't know what will happen with Korea, our closest region, and the United States, our close ties. In order to protect the peace of mind and safety of the nation and its people, Professor Fukaya is calling on politicians to be "prepared to sacrifice their lives." I felt that we, who elect and support such representatives of the people, also need to face that "preparedness."

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP Branch, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. This time, he gave a lecture on the theme of the US-North Korea summit.

What Professor Fukaya felt most strongly about after this meeting was the "difference in the amount of time left" between the two leaders. Between Chairman Kim, who is in his 30s, and President Trump, who has only two terms, or eight years, left, the former has a clear advantage in terms of mental space. Professor Fukaya believes that, as with past US presidents, Kim could not hide his "impatience."

Another impressive point in the lecture was that "Singapore was the biggest winner of the summit." This is because during the summit, the country's activities were broadcast on TV and the Internet every day, and the country's well-developed infrastructure and safety were showcased to the world. The economic benefits of this summit were apparently enormous.

While touching on the topic of Singapore, the host country, Professor Fukaya emphasized that the most important fact to face is that Japan is now in an unprecedented crisis in terms of defense. He also repeatedly stated that in such a situation, it is not the time to spend time discussing the Morikake issue.

Professor Fukaya concluded his lecture by saying that what will support Prime Minister Abe in the difficult situation ahead is the awareness of each and every citizen. I would like to identify what is truly important to protect our country and face it sincerely.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. This time, he gave a lecture on the theme of "recent current affairs."

The American magazine Time announced that Japanese Prime Minister Abe was selected as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World." The selection was given in recognition of his diplomatic skills with US President Trump.

It seems that Prime Minister Abe and President Trump are exchanging opinions about the world situation and issues between Japan and the U.S. Professor Fukaya said that there are criticisms of this, such as "This is not the time to be playing golf."

Prime Minister Abe is at the forefront of thinking about "what is most important" for the improvement of Japan through the relaxed environment of golf. Professor Fukaya was concerned that a climate in which this is not understood could lead to the damage of Japan's national interests.

Japan is currently facing an unprecedented crisis. In the midst of this, important discussions on issues such as the Morikake scandal are not progressing very well.

It is precisely because we are in a crisis situation that each and every citizen needs to think carefully about what is most important. I believe that the most important thing is to have patriotism, a love for one's country, and to take seriously the problems Japan is facing.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. Following on from his previous lecture on the enthronement ceremony, this time he gave a lecture on the theme of the current Emperor's abdication.

The current abdication was apparently enacted in response to the voices of the people who wanted the burden on the current emperor to be reduced. Despite the enormous volume of duties of the emperor, the current emperor is said to be fulfilling each and every one of them wholeheartedly and with all his heart and soul. When visiting disaster areas such as the eruption of Mount Unzen and the Great East Japan Earthquake, he knelt down, spoke to the people in the affected areas at eye level, and said, "The imperial system exists for times like these."

In addition to the debate over abdication, there are many issues that need to be resolved in Japan's unique imperial system, which has existed for 2600 years, including the issue of female emperors.

While I learned about the greatness of the Emperor's duties and the dignity of the Imperial system, I also came to realize how difficult it is to protect the Imperial system.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

Former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP, Takashi Fukaya, held a seminar on learning from old memories. Following on from his previous lecture on the death of Emperor Showa, this time he gave a lecture on the theme of the enthronement ceremony of the current Emperor.

Professor Fukaya attended the enthronement ceremony of the current Emperor as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications under Prime Minister Kaifu.

What was particularly impressive was the story that the contents of Japanese mythology can be glimpsed in various stages of the ceremony. For example, in the ceremony called "Kenji to Shokei no Gi", the three sacred treasures of Japan - the mirror, the magatama, and the sword - are handed down as proof of the succession to the throne. This sword is said to be the sacred sword that emerged from the tail of Susanoo when he defeated Yamata no Orochi.

In addition, when Mr. Fukaya attended the "Daijosai Ceremony", he wore a tailcoat. The only time Mr. Fukaya wore a tailcoat was when he was awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. Mr. Fukaya said that it was such a sacred event that the experience of attending it was extremely valuable.
Today's lecture was a very valuable experience for us who shared his experience with us. In the next lecture, he will talk about the issues of abdication and female Emperors.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held the "Onko Chishin Juku" seminar, inviting former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, as the head of the seminar.

In the run-up to the abdication of the current Emperor, this season we have had a guest speaker talk about the Imperial system. This is the second time that Professor Fukaya has spoken about Emperor Showa, whose funeral he attended.

Above all, I was touched by Emperor Showa's great love for Japan and felt a deeper gratitude for being able to live in the Japan of today.

Towards the end of the war, as the military was preparing to launch a decisive battle on the mainland, Emperor Showa, who was entrusted with the decision-making for the country, is said to have made the decision to end the war, saying, "It is important that as many Japanese as possible survive and then we can rebuild the country from there." "I don't care what happens to me."

After the war ended, Emperor Showa visited MacArthur and pleaded, "I am the man responsible for the war. I am prepared to face the death penalty, so please do not let the Japanese people suffer hardship." MacArthur, who thought he had come to beg for his life, praised Emperor Showa as "the finest gentleman."

I was deeply impressed by the spirit of Emperor Showa, who powerfully fulfilled his greatest duty of praying for the tranquility and peace of Japan during a turbulent time marked by successive disasters such as the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Pacific War.

In the next issue, Professor Fukaya will talk about the current Emperor, whose enthronement ceremony he attended.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2018, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held the "Onko Chishin Juku" seminar, inviting former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, as the head of the seminar.

On this day, which marked the first day of the Onkochishinjuku's third term, Professor Fukaya gave a speech entitled "For first-time students," in which he explained once again the background to the founding of Onkochishinjuku and the origin of its name.

First, we reaffirmed that the phrase "Onko Chishin" is a phrase found in the Analects of Confucius. The Analects is a book in which Confucius' disciples compiled the teachings of Confucius. The first line in the sentence, "Look into the past to learn the new," is well known, but it seems that the next line is "and thus become a teacher." This is said to mean that "Those who learn from the past and carve out the future can become teachers who teach and guide others." After hearing this, all the students reaffirmed that Onko Chishin Juku aims to nurture "leaders who will support Japan."

In the second half, he talked about the Emperor, who decided to abdicate while still alive.
In 1981, when Professor Fukaya was Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Labour, the first International Abilympics, a festival of skills for physically disabled people, was held in Japan. Professor Fukaya, who was in charge of the event, is said to have guided and explained the venue to His Majesty, who was the honorary chairman of the event when he was still Crown Prince.

What impressed them was that he was just as compassionate and gentlemanly as he is now. He adjusted his eye level with each person with a disability and listened carefully to what they had to say. He looked just like he did when he visited the areas affected by the recent earthquake.

Next time, Professor Fukaya will be speaking about the imperial system from his unique perspective, as he was present at the funeral of Emperor Showa and the enthronement ceremony of the current Emperor.

Thanks to Professor Fukaya's thoughtful introductory session in the first term, the third term is likely to continue to develop into an even more meaningful learning opportunity.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 12

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We invited former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP Branch, Takashi Fukaya, to be the head of the "Onkochishin Juku" seminar. This year's Onkochishin Juku lectures focus on historical figures every month and talk about the greatness of Japanese history and culture. This was the final session of the second term, and embodied the idea of ​​"Onkochishin" through the life of Miyamoto Musashi, who is a favorite of Fukaya, and the writings of Miyamoto Musashi's "narrators."

Particularly impressive was the story of the famous "Battle of Ganryu Island," where a fighter would arrive late to a duel, then "arrive early" on the battlefield, in order to sway the opponent's psychology. Although the "Battle of Ganryu Island" is the most widely known, there are many other stories of such skillful tactics, and Professor Fukaya told them in a flowing, story-like manner. His storytelling style was apparently influenced by that of "Tokugawa Musei," who gained popularity by reciting "Miyamoto Musashi" on NHK radio.

Miyamoto Musashi is known for his great stories, but he also talked about his negative reputation. Ryotaro Shiba, who has a deep affection for Miyamoto Musashi, said that the latter half of his life became a "slow tragedy" because he was too obsessed with success and recognition. Professor Fukaya said that we should learn a lesson from his writings: "We should not be conceited in thinking that we are working hard and that we have the ability, and lose the ability to view ourselves objectively."

"I hope that learning from history like this will be useful to the students at some point in their future lives," said Professor Fukaya as he concluded this year's Onkochishinjuku. Through this intensive learning once a month, it has been a very fruitful year for all the students.

The Onkochishinjuku class is scheduled to be held a total of 1 times starting from January next year on the third Monday of every month (3:18-00:19).

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 11

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We invited former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Tokyo LDP Chief Advisor Takashi Fukaya to be the head of the "Onkochishinjuku" seminar. Every month, he lectures on the greatness of Japanese history and culture, focusing on historical figures. This time, he spoke about the recent "sumo wrestling issue" under the theme of "recent current affairs."

In this case, each person has given different testimony, and it is taking time to uncover the facts. Professor Nakano said that this case reminds him of Akutagawa Ryunosuke's "Rashomon." "Rashomon" is a story about three people involved in a murder case in which a samurai is killed, all of whom give conflicting testimony. It can be said to be a work that expresses human egoism and the darkness of human society as seen through people's fluctuating emotions. Professor Nakano said that he felt there were some similarities with this assault case, and expressed his strong belief that it is important for all involved parties to speak honestly.

It was a very valuable opportunity to hear from someone like Professor Fukaya, who is a central figure in the country, about the issues that have come to light in the world of sumo, Japan's national sport, and all of us at the school learned a lot.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We invited former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo LDP Chapter, Takashi Fukaya, to be the head of the "Onkochishinjuku" seminar. This year's Onkochishinjuku seminar focuses on historical figures every month and lectures on the greatness of Japanese history and culture. This time, we asked Takashi Fukaya, a man who experienced the end of the war in Manchuria and returned to Japan the following year, to talk about his own patriotism.

The most important thing for a politician is patriotism
Professor Fukaya strongly emphasized that the most important thing for a politician is patriotism. A politician should be someone who is "prepared to die for the nation," and not someone who "thinks of himself, his comrades, his party, and his country second to none."

The budding patriotism leads to aspirations of becoming a politician
Professor Fukaya's patriotism began when he was repatriated from Harbin, Manchuria. After the war, he arrived in Japan, thinking he would never return, and he cried his eyes out, rubbing his cheek against the ground. This incident prompted him to dream of becoming a politician from an early age.

My Feelings, Then and Now
This day was also a very meaningful Onkochishinjuku where we learned history while laughing endlessly at the sensei's humorous way of speaking, incorporating Professor Fukaya's own experiences. The magnitude of the love for one's country that is born out of difficult circumstances is immeasurable. Also, in order to choose someone who is prepared to die for the nation, we, as discerning voters, must think sincerely about the nation and its people.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 9

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held the "Onkochishin Juku" seminar, inviting former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, as the head of the seminar.
This year's lectures embody the idea of ​​"learning from the past for new discoveries" by learning about historical figures each month, and this time the lecturers talked about two people who had won the Nobel Prize.

Chinese activist Liu Xiaobo
Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese activist who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, is known for advocating the ideas of democratization that were the background to the Tiananmen Square incident. The Chinese government decided to bury Liu at sea, claiming that if a grave was built for him, it would become a sacred place for the democratization movement. Surprisingly, Professor Fukaya expressed his support for this. His reasoning was that "all oceans become sacred places for democratization."

bernard shaw
Some people refused to accept the Nobel Prize because Nobel was the man who invented dynamite. In the end, it was Bernard Shaw who accepted the Nobel Prize in Literature, promising to donate the prize money. The story of dancer Isadora Duncan, who proposed to him, was very impressive. She proposed to him with the words, "How wonderful it would be if a child were born with your brain and my body." However, Bernard Shaw rejected her proposal by saying, "It would be terrible if a child were born with my body and your brain."

My Feelings, Then and Now
On this day as well, while learning about history, Professor Fukaya's humorous storytelling had us laughing endlessly, making it a very meaningful Onkochishinjuku experience.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held the "Onko Chishin Juku" seminar, inviting former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, as the head of the seminar.

This year's Onkochishinjuku has had a monthly lecture focusing on a historical figure and discussing the greatness of Japanese history and culture. This time, the professor spoke about the personalities of the ministers in the Third Abe Cabinet, which was inaugurated on August 8rd, drawing on his own experiences.

The stories shared on the day included the following anecdotes about the ministers:

Seiko Noda, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and Minister of State for Women's Empowerment, who once left the Liberal Democratic Party
・Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera has an honest personality and is overwhelmingly supported by local Sendai citizens.
Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Yoshimasa Hayashi was entrusted with steering the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, which is shaken by the Kake Gakuen scandal and other issues.
・Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono is known not only for his excellent English and diplomatic skills, but also for the story of his liver transplant for his father.
・Mr. Toshimitsu Motegi, Minister of State for Special Missions in the Cabinet Office, who excelled in execution, including serving as Chairman of the Policy Research Council in the second Abe Cabinet reshuffle
- Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ken Saito, who was once Secretary to Professor Fukaya and was appointed Minister despite being a third-term member of the Cabinet.

It was a very valuable opportunity to hear about the Cabinet lineup from someone as knowledgeable about the political world as Professor Fukaya, and all the students learned a lot from it.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We held the "Onko Chishin Juku" seminar, inviting former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor to the Tokyo Chapter of the Liberal Democratic Party, Mr. Takashi Fukaya, as the head of the seminar.

This year's Onkochishinjuku has had a monthly lecture focusing on historical figures and discussing the greatness of Japanese history and culture. With the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly election now over, Professor Fukaya spoke about the latest developments in Tokyo politics from his unique perspective.

Today's lecture made me keenly aware once again that politics can change dramatically due to excessive reporting and the actions of a few thoughtless people.

In order to choose people who have the strong will to devote their lives to the future of Japan, rather than for personal gain or fame, we voters must be smart enough to not be misled by biased information from the media or fooled by the sweet words and flashy performances of politicians.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We invited former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya, as the school's president.
We held the "Onkochishin Juku" seminar.

This year's Onkochishinjuku focuses on historical figures and lectures on the greatness of Japanese history and culture every month. This time, Professor Fukaya lectured on "Saigo Takamori," whose footsteps he followed during a trip to Kagoshima.

Takamori Saigo in his youth
Saigo Takamori is a very famous figure, said to be a hero of the end of the Edo period who brought about the Meiji Restoration. He was said to have been physically strong and strong from an early age, and to have valued his friends. On the other hand, he was also quick to fight, and was slashed from behind by someone seeking revenge, which left him with a permanent disability in his right arm, which led him to aspire to a career in academia.

Meeting with Satsuma Domain's Magistrate, Jyuemon Sakoda
Saigo was heavily influenced by the ideas of Satsuma Domain's magistrate, Sakoda Jyuemon Toshimitsu. Sakoda believed that "officials who impose excessive taxes on farmers and oppress them will lead to their own ruin." Following this way of thinking, Saigo was recognized by Shimazu Nariakira, the domain lord whom he respected throughout his life, and paved his way.

Motto: "Respect Heaven and Love People"
Saigo was a moral person, and his motto was "Respect Heaven and Love People." It meant, "As long as there are people who admire me, I will do my best for them, even if I die doing so, and that is my divine mission." He fought in the Seinan War against the shogunate, which had allied with foreign forces, even though he felt he had no chance of winning, because he was sympathetic to the feelings of the people who had gathered in Satsuma in admiration of him. There were many other stories that made him seem like a person who attracted and was admired by others.

My Feelings, Then and Now
Saigo Takamori dedicated his life not for personal gain or fame, but for the future of Japan. Even just a glimpse into his life made me think again about what a Japanese person should be like and the mindset of someone who should be admired as a virtuous person. I would like to use what I have learned in this class to become a person who is loved and admired by many people like Saigo Takamori.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

We invited former Minister of International Trade and Industry and Chief Advisor of the Tokyo branch of the Liberal Democratic Party, Takashi Fukaya, as the school's president.
"Onkochishinjuku" (Learning from the Past and Newly Learned) was held
This year's Onkochishinjuku has had a monthly lecture focusing on a historical figure and introducing the greatness of Japanese history and culture. This time, the lecture happened to coincide with the celebration of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone's 99th birthday, so we had a lecture on that same prime minister.

The "Connections" that Former Prime Minister Nakasone Values
Former Prime Minister Nakasone particularly places great importance on "bonds, respect, and connections of the path."
To form a bond...
Honoring the bond you have made
Suien...Living according to the bond you have made
Just as a seed does not necessarily bloom when planted, but requires external conditions such as fertilizer and water, certain external conditions are also necessary for life to blossom.

"Even as dusk falls, the cicadas continue to sing their last words."
Upon his retirement, former Prime Minister Nakasone wrote, "Even as the sun sets, the cicadas continue to sing their songs to the end of their lives." Cicadas spend more time underground than above ground, and they live their short lives to the fullest. From these words, we too learned the importance of "continuing to live by our beliefs, even as the sun sets, as long as we are alive, until the very last moment."

My Feelings, Then and Now
Unlike the usual Onkochishinjuku, most of the talk by former Prime Minister Nakasone this time was something that Professor Fukaya had actually seen and heard. Although it would be presumptuous to say that the many lessons he taught us this time were "close to home," I believe that each of the participants received them in a special way compared to usual. I hope that we can learn many things from both the past and the present, and live colorful lives.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On April 4th, the fourth lecture of the Onkochishinjuku was held at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.
The lineup this time is "Taira no Masakado, Taira no Kiyomori, Minamoto no Yoritomo, and Minamoto no Yoshitsune."
Taira no Masakado is introduced as a man who corrected the disorder in the world at a time when the Heian period was no longer as peaceful as its name suggested.
It seems that the kokushi and shuryo, who held the power at the time, only pursued their own interests.
On the other hand, the gunji, who were subordinates to the kokushi, were said to have valued the people.
Masakado, together with his county governors, curbed the rampage of the provincial governors and shogunate governors.
In battle, he went into enemy territory to defend his homeland and even won.
I was impressed by their attitude, which was filled with love for their hometown, and their strength and kindness.
Taira no Kiyomori can be seen as a "negative example" who left us with the moral at the beginning of The Tale of the Heike, "Pride comes before a end."
Although it was a bitter end for the arrogant,
He did not kill the Minamoto clan members he defeated, including Yoritomo, who was 14 years old at the time, and Ushiwaka (later known as Yoshitsune).
He also showed us his passionate side.
What if we had not allowed Yoritomo and Yoshitsune to live then?
The interesting thing about history is that the more you learn, the more "what if" questions arise.
And the contrasting upbringings of the two survivors, Yoritomo and Yoshitsune, make history interesting.
I was introduced to it.
While Yoritomo was always recognized as he grew up, Yoshitsune was poor, unrecognized, and struggled.
Although he had achieved success after much hardship and had become the center of the Genji's rapid advance,
Yoshitsune incurred the jealousy of Yoritomo and was crushed.
Sometimes, "people who live righteously are supported."
"Even if you live a righteous life, you can still be crushed."
There are many complex human emotions swirling around, such as envy and jealousy...
Once again, I was able to experience the fascinating nature of human beings as well as the fascinating nature of history.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2017, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

This year's Onkochishinjuku will feature lectures each month focusing on historical figures and discussing the greatness of Japanese history and culture.
The lineup this time was "Emperor Kanmu, Fujiwara no Michinaga, the House of Habsburg, Sei Shonagon, and Murasaki Shikibu."

Emperor Kanmu ascended to the throne at the prime of his working life, the age of 44, and worked hard to bring order to a chaotic world. He corrected the behavior of shrines and temples, which held power at the time, and relaxed the obligations of farmers, who were suffering from military service and taxes.
I was impressed by their attitude of "crushing the strong and helping the weak."

Fujiwara no Michinaga is known for the poem, "I feel that this world is my own, as if the full moon were never crescent."
The Fujiwara family did not rise to power through their own efforts, but rather gained power by making their daughters empresses and becoming relatives of the emperor.
The House of Habsburg was introduced as an example of a country that expanded its power through this type of "strategic marriage" not only in Japan but also in medieval Europe.

While we learned about the "strength of women" from the Habsburg family, I was also impressed by the story that it was the hard work of men that led Murasaki Shikibu to write the world's oldest novel.

There was a lot of knowledge to learn and use from this lineup of speakers, and I believe that everyone who attended enjoyed the lectures from a variety of perspectives.
I am looking forward to the next lecture.
Thank you very much for this valuable lecture.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 10

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, August 10th, the 19th Onkochishin Juku was held at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

Professor Fukaya's Onkochishinjuku class concluded with the lecture today, October 10th.
Thank you very much for your ten lectures over the past year.
I can only imagine that behind the lectures given each month on completely different themes, there must have been a great deal of research and effort.
I learned a lot.

The theme of this lecture was "Constitutional Issues," and it began with a discussion of the current hot topic of candidate Trump as president, followed by a lecture on the situation surrounding the modern constitution.
The Japanese Constitution was introduced by the United States as a form of indirect rule at the time, and since then it has been considered taboo when it comes to amending the constitution, and it has tended to be difficult to touch upon.

Professor Fukaya stated the main issues regarding the Constitution as follows:
1. Lack of recognition of family and community
2. Lack of awareness of the nation's greatest responsibility: safety
3. Lack of contribution to peace in the international community
4. Lack of regulations for protecting the natural environment

So what is important about the Constitution?
Professor Fukaya said that it is a national view and values ​​that are based on history.
This was none other than the content of the National Perspective Development Course, which was held 10 times this year, and it felt like the theme of learning from the past for the present was linked to the issue of the current constitutional law.
I believe that for us who will live in the next era, constitutional issues are a major challenge that we will have to coexist with.

We look forward to your continued support in the second term next year.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, August 9th, the 21th Onkochishin Juku was held at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

This time, the lecture was on the theme of "Examining the Tokyo Trials," which made me think about the consistency of the Tokyo Trials and was surprising.
The Tokyo Trials branded Japan as a criminal nation, and the impression was that all of Japan's prewar actions were evil, but I learned that the trials were extremely unequal.
We felt strongly that we needed to be aware of this error and communicate it going forward.

Thank you very much for this valuable lecture.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 8

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, August 8th, the 10th Onkochishin Juku was held at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

This time, we had a lecture on the theme of "Background to the Greater East Asia War," and learned about the developments between Japan and other countries from the start of the war to its end.
I was deeply impressed by the attitude of the Japanese people as a whole, thinking and acting for their own country, for their mother country. Also, the story of the Himeyuri Unit and the Kinno Unit during the Battle of Okinawa reminded me of the harshness of war. Currently, there is the issue of the military bases in Okinawa, but I would like to think about the history so far and the future of Japan's national defense.

Thank you very much for this valuable lecture.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 7

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, July 7th, the 20th Onkochishinjuku was held at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

This time, we had a lecture on the theme of "The path to the Russo-Japanese War and the Greater East Asian War," and we were able to learn about the events that led to the Russo-Japanese War, the course of the war, its results, and the world situation.
As Professor Fukaya said, by understanding this era in which one war became the spark for new wars, each and every one of us must think about how to realize a world without war.

Thank you very much for this valuable lecture.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 6

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, March 6th, Professor Takashi Fukaya held the Onkochishinjuku seminar at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

Under the theme of "The Dawn of Japan: The Meiji Restoration and the Sino-Japanese War," he spoke about the turbulent times in Japan from the Meiji Restoration to the Sino-Japanese War.
The lecture covered a wide range of topics, including not only the history of the time but also Buddhist perspectives.

During the lecture, I learned that behind the Meiji Restoration were the will and decisions of many people.
It is said that what people of that time had in common was "selflessness" and "patriotism."
It seems that many people acted with a "nation" perspective, rather than being limited to the boundaries of their own domains.
Knowing this history makes me feel that we must think about what it means to be Japanese.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 5

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, March 5th, Professor Takashi Fukaya held the Onkochishinjuku seminar at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

This time, he spoke on the theme of "The Fundamental Imperial Rescript on Education."
In the story of the Imperial Rescript on Education and Bushido, the former lists 12 virtues and the latter lists 7 virtues.
Each of these virtues is a way of thinking unique to the Japanese, or something that modern people lack, so I would like to be conscious of these virtues in my daily life.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 4

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, March 4th, Professor Takashi Fukaya held the Onkochishinjuku seminar at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

This time, he spoke on the theme of "The progress of Japanese morality: the fusion of Shintoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism."
It was a very valuable experience listening to his talk and giving me the opportunity to think about current education and moral values.
I would like to cherish the spirit of benevolence and courtesy in my daily life so that I can act for the benefit of society and ultimately for the country.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 3

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, March 3th, Professor Takashi Fukaya held the Onkochishinjuku seminar at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.

This time, he spoke about the theme of "Changes in writing and civilization," using classics such as the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki as examples.
The changes in characters also revealed the diversity of the Japanese people, who have adopted different cultures and developed their own unique culture.
I believe that we too must read the classics and learn about history in order to think about what it means to be Japanese.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 2

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

On Wednesday, March 2th, Professor Takashi Fukaya held the Onkochishinjuku seminar at Tokushinkai Quartz Tower.
In this second session, he talked about the character of the Japanese people from a historical perspective.
Japan's characteristics cited include its flexibility, which has come about through its free adoption of Chinese and Western culture and religion, and its hard work, which has come about through its commitment to rice cultivation, a job that requires no shortcuts.
By learning about the history of our home country, Japan, we can view ourselves objectively and use it as a guide to think carefully about how we should live our lives in the future.

Lecturer:Takashi FukayaMr

Date: September 2016, 1

Location: Tokushinkai Quartz Tower 10F

The first lecture of the Onkochishinjuku course by Professor Fukaya was held at the Tokushinkai Quartz Tower in Aoyama, Tokyo.
At the start of the lecture, we all sang the national anthem and the Five Pledges together, which made me feel very tense.
In addition, the lecture had the theme of "Connections," and when Professor Fukaya spoke, he explained that he needed to prepare carefully because he was taking up the time of the person he was speaking to. He also recalled what the Chairman had said about Professor Fukaya's previous lectures, such as the National Perspective Development Course, in which he prepared his lectures carefully by creating scripts. I felt that it is necessary to prepare carefully at all times when dealing with things.