1. What Was the First High School's Commemorative Festival, Held by Its Dormitory?
The University of Tokyo states that the First High School’s Commemorative Festival was a dormitory festival celebrating the establishment of a self-governing dorm [6]. The event included tea gatherings, speeches, sword dances, and the performance of dorm songs [6]. It was not just an internal student meeting. Students, teachers, and alumni interacted, and the campus was open to the general public [6]. Graduates who had become adults visited, and local residents came as well. This scene closely resembles modern university festivals.
One curious point is that the festival celebrated the "self-governing dorm." The idea that students managed their own living spaces reflects the unique character of this school. To understand this, we must first ask: what exactly were these old-style high schools?
2. Why Were Old-Style High Schools a Step Before University?
In 1894, the High School Order renamed previous Higher Middle Schools to High Schools. This order stated that teaching specialized subjects was the principle, while preparatory courses for entering Imperial Universities were "allowed to be established" [2]. However, in practice, specialized subjects did not develop, and the university preparatory courses became the central focus [2]. Old-style high schools effectively served as preparatory schools for Imperial Universities, and most graduates went on to those universities [1]. These were exclusive schools open only to boys [1].
The numbers show just how exclusive they were. According to the Japan Encyclopedia, in 1940, there were 32 schools in total (public, private, and national), with about 25,000 students. The average number of students per school was about 780 [1]. Entrance exams were extremely competitive, but once admitted, getting into an Imperial University was relatively easy [1]. If the main goal was just university preparation, why did they need dorms, festivals, and songs? What were the students doing besides studying?
3. Why Did Old-Style High Schools Make "Freedom and Autonomy" Their Motto?
Documents regarding the Fourth High School in Kanazawa describe "freedom and autonomy" as the key characteristic of old-style high schools, especially among the numbered schools from First to Eighth [4][3]. One place where student self-government appeared was in the boarding dorms. The history of these dorms goes back to the First Higher Middle School in the early 1880s [5]. The operation of the dorms was left to student self-government. At the First High School, the dorm self-governance system became established in the 1890s, according to the World Encyclopedia entry on "Dorm Songs" [5].
There is no single reason in the available sources for why autonomy developed in these preparatory schools. However, since getting into an Imperial University was relatively easy once admitted, students had the space to manage their own lives, not just prepare for exams. This is evident from the existence of the Commemorative Festival and dorm songs. What did this dorm life create?
4. How Did Dorm Songs Spread Among Old-Style High Schools?
According to encyclopedias, the oldest dorm song was created in 1892. After 1895, new dorm songs were created for each festival celebrating the opening of a dorm. In the 1897–1906 period (Meiji 30s), many famous songs were composed [5]. One of the most well-known is "Ah, Holding Flowers in the Jade Cup" (Oka Gyokuhai ni Hana Ukete), created in 1902. It was sung at the First High School and is said to have influenced dorm song creation in high schools across the country [5].
Recall that the Commemorative Festival included the performance of dorm songs [6]. The festival celebrated dorm autonomy, new songs were born at each festival, and these songs spread to other schools. The dorm, the festival, and the songs were connected in a continuous chain. What happened to this flow later?
5. What Happened to Old-Style High Schools After the System Ended?
Old-style high schools were abolished when the School Education Law was enacted on April 1, 1947, and they closed in March 1950. Many became part of new universities [7]. The First High School moved from Hongo to Komaba in 1935. That site is now the University of Tokyo’s Komaba Campus [6]. The story that the Komaba Festival originated from the First High School’s Commemorative Festival makes sense when viewed through the history of this location. Even though the school system disappeared, the festival born in the dorms was passed down as a university festival, changing its location and name. Is there a place where you can directly experience the atmosphere of old-style high schools today?
6. How Can You See a Recreated Dorm Room at the Old-Style High School Memorial Museum in Matsumoto?
At the Old-Style High School Memorial Museum in Matsumoto City, you can see uniforms, school badges, and a corner recreating the "Shisei Ryō" dorm of Matsumoto High School. There is also a model of the school grounds [3]. It is a place where you can check the size and atmosphere of dorm rooms with your own eyes. The nearby Old Matsumoto High School Main Building (completed in 1920) is an Important Cultural Property. Famous alumni include Kaji Motojirō, Inoue Yasushi, and Morio Kita [3].
If you cannot travel there, you might find the origins of your local university festival by searching websites of nearby universities or schools. As seen with the University of Tokyo’s PR, the "previous form" of festivals can be found in unexpected places. Please check the city’s official guide for opening days and fees before visiting.