KOTOApril 03 (News On Japan) – Residents of Japan’s oldest student dormitory, which has been privately owned for more than 100 years, are digging in as Kyoto University tries to evict them.
Despite being a recognizable part of Kyoto University’s Yoshida Campus, the dormitory’s name is conspicuously absent from the university’s guide boards, indicating a lack of recognition by the university.
Students fought against university pressure because they held a fundamental belief in self-governance, resisted top-down decisions, and valued the bottom-up approach to managing their affairs.
Located in Kyoto’s Sakyo Ward, Yoshida Dormitory employs no administrators or staff; it is managed entirely by the residents, without any official manager. The dormitory houses approximately 120 students in its various rooms, including living areas, game rooms and mahjong rooms. It offers a unique blend of community and autonomy, fostering relationships between students of different backgrounds, nationalities and ages.
Yoshida Dormitory has faced multiple challenges from Kyoto University, including a notable dispute in the 1980s when the university attempted to strengthen its control over the dormitory, leading to student protests and negotiations. Despite these conflicts, the dormitory has survived and students continue to engage with the university about their living conditions.
In 2017, citing concerns about the dormitory’s aging infrastructure, the university demanded that the residents leave. This led to legal action against some students, further straining relations between the dormitory residents and the university. The Kyoto District Court ultimately ruled that the majority of residents did not have to leave, a decision appealed by the university, prolonging the legal battle.
The university states that the safety of the dormitory residents is of the utmost importance and has stated that there is no room for negotiation over their living conditions. Despite these challenges, Yoshida Dormitory students continue to value their autonomy and right to self-governance, and cherish the experiences and lessons they have learned from living in this unique community.
Source: ABCTVnews
