Ashikaga School: Japan's Oldest Academy

Ashikaga School, or Ashikaga Gakko, stands as a testament to Japan's long and distinguished educational heritage. While its exact founding date remains debated, theories suggest origins as early as the Heian period (around 832 AD) or the Kamakura period in the late 12th century. Regardless, its significance is undeniable. The school experienced a revival in 1432 thanks to Uesugi Norizane, who revitalized the school by donating books and inviting a new headmaster. By the 16th century, it had become a prominent center of learning, drawing up to 3,000 students from across Japan and even the Ryukyu Kingdom. The curriculum encompassed Confucianism, medicine, divination, and military strategy. Impressed by its scale and influence, Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier lauded it in 1549 as the "largest and most famous school in Japan".Though it declined and was disestablished in 1872, the Ashikaga School was designated a National Historic Site in 1921. Restoration efforts in 1990 brought back the school's Edo-period buildings and gardens, allowing visitors to explore the classrooms and library. Today, the site offers a unique window into the past, where one can imagine the scholars who once walked its halls and delve into the history of Japanese education. Visitors can also view videos about the school's history and participate in a program reading aloud from the Analects of Confucius on Sundays.