Held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first year of the Showa Era, this symposium was an attempt to retrace the steps of Saionji Kinmochi, the founder of Ritsumeikan who was called “the last of the elder statesmen,” and to re-examine how his ideas and philosophy hold up in the modern age. Saionji's philosophy of liberalism and internationalism were carried over in the postwar educational philosophy of “peace and democracy,” which laid the groundwork for the Ritsumeikan Academy of today.
Chairperson of the Ritsumeikan Trust Tomomi Morishima delivered an opening address in which he said, "This year marks the 100th anniversary of the first year of the Showa Era, the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the 155th anniversary of the founding of Ritsumeikan and the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Ritsumeikan Academy. The world of today, including Japan, is mired in confusion, so I believe this is precisely the time for us to learn from the life of our founder, Saionji Kinmochi, as a thinker, politician, and educator.”

Facilitated by the coordinator, Professor Masatsugu Hongo, Specially Appointed Professor from the College of Letters at Ritsumeikan University, discussions about history, diplomacy, and education unfolded from the perspective that the turbulence of early Showa Era Japan and the present-day situation appear “similar in form.”

Touching on Saionji’s upbringing and the context of the early Meiji era, Professor Michifumi Isoda (International Research Center for Japanese Studies) noted: “Kinmochi Saionji aspired not to maintain an old-fashioned political system or to practice politics driven by power and emotion; rather he chose to pursue politics grounded in reason and knowledge. In diplomacy, he excelled in what one might call ‘the ability to gauge situations,’ assessing international relations with cool-headed judgment aligned with Japan’s strengths.”
Next, former Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka provided a perspective grounded in his practical experience by saying: “Saionji Kinmochi’s studies in France nurtured in him a perspective of ‘Japan within the world.’ In diplomacy, he understood the importance of building multilateral relations on the foundation of international cooperation. As for education, he placed emphasis on learning opportunities for women and the common people, showing foresight in his vision for building a respected nation. His outlook and sense of balance remain rich in insight even today.”
Hiroo Saionji, the great-grandson of Saionji Kinmochi and Chairperson of the Goi Peace Foundation, emphasized the importance of international harmony and education while expressing his expectations for Ritsumeikan: "My great-grandfather, Saionji Kinmochi, aimed to build a harmonious society based on a spirit of freedom and moderation, avoiding extreme ideas and actions. He saw party politics as a means to realize a free and peaceful society, and in education, he promoted learning that transcended status and gender and worked to develop human resources who would be respected in the international community. In particular, his belief that ‘nation-building is people-building’ forms the basis of his outlook on education. Ritsumeikan has carried on this spirit, and I hope it will continue to incorporate this into its education going forward.”

In closing, Professor Hongo, an expert in ancient history, also mentioned Saionji’s ideological commonalities with Prince Shōtoku. He pointed out that Prince Shōtoku's attitude of exploring ways to create a new nation by actively adopting foreign ideas and his philosophy of choosing the path of cooperation, which he developed from his war experience, shared similarities with Saionji’s spirit of freedom and moderation.

With the belief that "nation-building is people-building," Saionji Kinmochi founded a private academy called Ritsumeikan as a young man. These words embody a strong conviction that the realization of a free, peaceful, and democratic society requires not only the establishment of institutions such as constitutionalism and party politics, but also the development of people to support these institutions. This spirit lives on today in Ritsumeikan's founding spirit of “Freedom and Innovation” and its educational philosophy of “Peace and Democracy.” Guided by this founding spirit and educational philosophy, Ritsumeikan will continue to strive toward cultivating individuals who embody the spirit of “believe in the future, live in the future.”

This symposium was hosted by the Ritsumeikan Trust with support from the Goi Peace Foundation, Maruzen Junkudo Bookstores Co., Ltd, and Bungeishunju Ltd.