My Colleagues, Each Person is Precious（諸君よ、人一人は大切なり）

Background

Who is Each Person?

The first quote above is from the ceremonial address by Jo Neesima at the ceremony commemorating the tenth anniversary of the founding of Doshisha. At first glance, one might get the impression that it is a motto of humanism or philanthropy. Of course, it is not strange to understand that these words of Neesima represented a general love of humanity. However, Neesima did not say that all people are precious at this time. What exactly did Neesima mean by “each person” whom he appealed to as “precious”?
　The speech begins with the following statement: “There are so many things I would like to say about the past, but I will leave them out. There are also many things I would like to say about our graduates, but I will not do so.” On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of Doshisha, Neesima was neither recounting its history nor trying to introduce the activities of its graduates. He said he would not mention either of them. At a radiant ceremony with the governor of Kyoto Prefecture, the governor of Shiga Prefecture and the speaker of the House of Representatives as guests of honor, Neesima abruptly began to speak about his feelings toward those who had left the school. One wonders how the audience felt as they listened to his words. How did Neesima think about those who left the school, whom he considered precious, without worrying about being out of place and without introducing the history of Doshisha or the achievements of its alums? (see “3. Private School Philosophy” in Part 1)

Precious and Love

Neesima had just returned from a year-and-a-half-long trip to Europe and the United States. The lost students had been expelled from Doshisha for one reason or another during this period. In the second quote above, Neesima also regretted that he should have “paid particular attention” to “the least able students” in the class during his stay abroad. This was probably a strong reflection on his continued teaching classes while leaving “the students with the lowest grades” unattended.
　In Dochirina Kirishitan, a well-known doctrinal book written by the Jesuits at the time of their mission to Japan at the end of the 16th century, we can find the following statement.

　The word “Gotaisetu/Taisetu (means precious)” in the doctrinal texts of the Kirisitan era (the time of the Catholic missionaries in medieval Japan. i.e., the first Christian era in Japan) is translated into the word “love” in the current Japanese translation of the Bible. Suppose we understand the terms “precious to the Lord” and “Keep your neighbor as precious as yourself,” the words of Jesus become more familiar and tangible to the Japanese people of today.

Reflect on Yourself

Neesima does not directly criticize the school authorities for their mistakes in disposing of their precious students while he is away. However, as he states in the first quote above, “From now on, we should be cautious,” it is clear that he reflected on “our” mistakes, including Neesima himself, who was absent from the field of education, and that he wanted to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Doshisha by reflecting on his own mistakes. It is reported that all those who heard Neesima’s earnest appeal, “Each person is precious,” wet their sleeves with tears. For Neesima, the 10th anniversary of Doshisha was not a day to be proud of his past or achievements but to look back at what he had failed to accomplish and pledge a new rebirth together with many others involved.

Contemporary Significance

Learn on This Campus

The words “My Colleagues, each person is precious” are engraved in large letters on the exterior wall of a corridor in the Shinmachi Campus of Doshisha University. The words seem to say to those studying at this campus, “You are precious.” At the same time, “You should care for each other.” Perhaps it is in this duality that we should read Neesima’s true meaning. If the synonym for love in Japanese tradition is “precious,” it could also be interpreted as “You are loved; learn to love your neighbors.”

The Lost Sheep

Neesima’s feelings upon learning that some students were thrown out (expelled) from Doshisha during his year and a half-absence may be inferred from the parable Jesus told about “The lost sheep” (Luke 15:1–7).
　Jesus asks, “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?” The comparison would not be valid in today’s society, which prioritizes economy and efficiency. One sheep out of 100 is only 1% of the total. Even if one sheep is not found, the loss is within the margin of error. Instead, considering the time and expense of the search, the effort to search for one sheep is a loss. Nevertheless, Jesus says, “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”

Imagine the Absentees

If we fail to understand the meaning of this parable, perhaps we have become trapped in quantitative values. Jesus appealed to the very presence of one sinner as a precious value that should not be overlooked. He is not comparing quantities but is urging us to recognize the importance of existence that supersedes quantitative value. People would generally prefer to belong to a group that values even the smallest unit of existence rather than neglecting it simply because it is the smallest. Likewise, anyone would prefer to learn in a place where the dropouts continue to be recalled rather than forgotten.

Cornerstone of Society

Neesima’s appeal, “My Colleagues, each person is precious,” was his way of understanding Christianity and expressing its core values. Furthermore, it is connected to the practice of Neesima’s Christian spirit. It was Neesima’s prayer that those who were treated with respect would become the cornerstone of a society that loved every individual. The inscription on the Doshisha campus, “My Colleagues, each person is precious,” is the prayer of those involved in Doshisha today, who hope to produce such cornerstones from this school. It should also be a warning to everyone involved in Doshisha education today. Neesima’s gem of a statement calls into question the quality of education and learning at Doshisha even today. Are we paying attention to our neighbors who are not here now? (see “Love Runs Through Christianity,” “Love for One Means Loving Others”)

(Nobuhiro Nakamura)