Women

The Feminist Movement in Japan: Meiji to World War II

Learn about the early history of the feminist movement in Japan, and how women went from being "daughters in boxes" to earning suffrage and liberty.

Ama-San: A Look at Japan’s Female Free Divers

Learn about the culture, skills, and economic developments of the ama-san, a dying culture of sea-faring women with historic roots.

6 Facts About Gender Equality in Japan

A vocal minority on the Internet wants the English speaking world to believe women have no issues with gender equality in Japan. The facts say otherwise.

Tanaka Mitsu and Japan’s Second Wave Feminist Movement

Bold, outspoken, and controversial. How Tanaka Mitsu became the face of the 1970s Feminist Movement in Japan - and why that rubbed many the wrong way.

Not So Kawaii: How Japan’s “Culture of Cute” Traps Japanese Women

It rakes in trillions for Japan, but is kawaii culture forcing Japanese women into a no-win situation?

Hiratsuka Raicho: The Japanese Feminist’s Life and Work

Ichikawa Fusae: The First Woman of Japanese Politics

In an age when women had few rights, Ichikawa Fusae fought for hers - and used her hard won career to give a voice to the voiceless.

Kimura Komako: The Dancing Feminist

Born in an era in Japan when women's rights were more oppressed than ever, Kimura Komako never gave up the fight - even when that meant taking the fight overseas.

Yamamoto Yae: The Warrior Woman Who Never Stopped Serving

From defending castles to outraging society, Yamamoto Yae never met a battle she didn't pick. Alyssa Fusek on one of Japan's most iconoclastic warrior-women.

Women

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