Boys, Be Ambitious Day

What Is Boys, Be Ambitious Day?

Every April 16th is "Boys, Be Ambitious Day" (ボーイズ・ビー・アンビシャス・デー, Bōizu Bī Anbishasu Dē) in Japan. On April 16, 1877, William Smith Clark (ウィリアム・スミス・クラーク), the American educator who served as the first vice-principal (kyōtō) of the Sapporo Agricultural College (now Hokkaido University), left Sapporo. As he parted from his students, he reportedly said the famous words "Boys, be ambitious" — a phrase that became one of the most quoted statements in modern Japanese educational history.

William Smith Clark and the Sapporo Agricultural College

William Smith Clark (1826–1886), president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College, came to Japan in 1876 at the invitation of the Meiji government, using a one-year leave from his college. The Sapporo Agricultural College opened in August 1876 as one of Japan's earliest institutions authorized to grant bachelor's degrees. Clark stayed in Sapporo for less than nine months, from late July 1876 to April 1877, yet he left a deep impression on his students by leading through his own example and encouraging them to study independently.

The Farewell Words

Clark's parting words are said to have been spoken at the Shimamatsu post station (in present-day Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido), where the first-year students had come to see him off. A longer version of the quote ("Be ambitious not for money or for selfish aggrandizement...") is sometimes cited, but its authenticity is uncertain. Researchers have noted that "ambitious" was a word Clark liked to use, and one of his colleagues present at the farewell later spoke of the words himself, so it is considered very likely that Clark used the word.

Clark's Legacy in Hokkaido

A famous statue of Clark with his right arm raised stands at Sapporo Hitsujigaoka Observation Hill (さっぽろ羊ヶ丘展望台) and is one of Sapporo's best-known photo spots; there is also a bust on the Hokkaido University campus. Students of the second class, who entered after Clark left, included Inazō Nitobe and Kanzō Uchimura.

Fun Facts

• Clark's Christianity: Clark was a devout Christian, and many of his students signed a covenant of believers in Jesus; the school produced several prominent figures in Japan's early Christian community.
• After Sapporo: Clark's later life in the United States was difficult, including a failed business venture, but he is said to have cherished his time in Sapporo to the end.
• Hokkaido University today: Hokkaido University is one of Japan's seven former Imperial Universities, with strong programs in agriculture, veterinary medicine, and fisheries.