Top Story: 12.July 2006

Century of Japanese Women

Introduction

Recently, I read a story from Asahi Shimbun, which described the earthquake of Kobe in 1995. It caused a fire that started to spread and parents of this family realized Dancer too late that their children were trapped in burning building. The mother went in and sacrificed her life to save the children. After reading the story, I was wondering why these kind of stories are so easy to find from Japan. Is this just a coincidence?

"The most wonderful aesthetic products of Japan", Lafcadio Hearn wrote in 1904, "are not it's ivories, nor it's bronzes, nor it's porcelains, nor it's swords, nor any of its marvels in metal or lacquer - but it's women". Although he equated women with priceless objects, his statement has left in history as a tribute to the Japanese women. Now, Japanese women are no longer seen as a mysterious, distant figures in their kimonos but natural human beings that seek perfection in a new way.

Good wives and wise mothers

The Japanese word ryosaikenbo can be translated to "Good wives and wise mothers" . This phrase displays the expectation women had during the meiji era.

Earlier in the past women were not responsible of children's moral and other education. But this changed in the early 20th century and women become fully responsible mothers. Being a good wife wasn't enough - woman also had to become cultivated and wise mother. When women started gradually enter work life, some of them had to have a third role, role of working woman. Generally the attitude has been changing, but there is still a thought that women must not be superior to men.

During the century of war, nature disasters, and recession, the heaviest burden fell on women. They worked in dangerous ammunition factories and took care of children, fed their family and husband, and transferred the traditional handcraft skills to the younger generation. Baby booming generation's women were the ones that had to take the largest responsibility to forward the traditional culture to future generations. They were the women who experienced the economic bubble and it's burst, while taking care of their young children. They are the ones who have most interesting stories to tell.

Some criticize their success as the current young generation have sometimes being labeled as NEET's or freeters, bunch of manga fans and otakus. But we must not forget the large quiet crowd of young people who are constantly working with hard effort to build future of Japan. The new generation is taking place now and Japan is experiencing age of fewer marriages and declining birthrate. Women are now working and living more independent life than never before.

Women in family

Always Sanchome no Yuhi DVD
Always Zoku Sanchome..
Mizoguchi Kenji
Kawase Naomi
Katsura

Japanese family system "Ie" is very important to understand. In Japan the respect to the ancestors is very important for women to maintain the blood relations. Ethnologist Yanagita Kunio said that Japanese family system is following:

1: The Housewife defends her home actively

2: The members of family have the thought of maintaining the family history without deviation toward the future.

Kunio's the first point is very interesting as it suggests housewife's role as a guardian, person who to defend her home. Still nowadays, you often hear housewives talking about "my home" rather than "our home" even there are other members of the same household. The home appears to be something that solely belongs to the housewife, as she takes care of it, does all the shopping and takes care of the economy. And women are those who usually write all the nenga-jo, new year's cards..

Do you want to learn about Japanese
traditional clothing?
Check out Japanese Kimono.

Second point suggests that the master should sacrifice his individual freedom for the family.

There are many beautiful stories about mothers in Japan. We can often hear Japanese women complaining that their husbands expect them to be solely mothers, rather than wife or woman after the marriage.

Women in work

The amount of working women has been in high increase. A lot of young women are seeking for a career and set family plans aside. They have this determined look in their eyes "I'm going to make into a CEO someday!". Some women choose part time jobs instead and concentrate enjoying life without great ambition about the future. This seems to be very popular among young women these days, as first time in the decades, women have possibility to enjoy free life in Japan.

Although you won't see female cop (in uniform) in Japan yet, women are working in criminal investigation units just like men. And train personnel are often women, wearing the same white gloves. I have neither heard of female firefighter from Japan.

Although working single mothers might get some nasty looks for neighboring housewives, nowadays it is not out of the question to let the children to nursery or allow grandparents take care of them.

Now, let's take a look of the modern history through eyes of Japanese women.

Meiji period 1868-1912

The Meiji government declared "The Fundamental Code of Education" in 1872. It stated that regardless of a class, women and man must make use of the school education. As mentioned earlier, the word ryosaikenbo comes to the picture here. In order to make women "Good Wife and Wise Mother" the meiji government realized the need of educating women. Educational minister said in his words following:

The thing is not managed in our country as the one called girl's employment becomes independent. The one called an education of girls should aim to say it is suitable for this duty 13to it because saying as the marriage and becoming the good wife and wise mother will be the work of large majority when the future.

Sadly, as it's clearly visible between the lines, women were not expected to be even nearly in the same level with men, but to serve and protect the family. Women were not to pursue career or to have ambition.

Fukuzawa Yukichi (1835-1901) is often said to be first one to stand for women's position in the society. He insisted for the equal monogamy system. Fukuzawa got Fukuda Hineko inspiration from foreign John Stuart Mill's "The Subjection of women" which was published in 1877. Fukuzawa wanted women to become independent and free from feudal era.

After the Meiji restoration, Japan began it's way of westernization. Almost all systems of the nation were in a change. This process was filled with difficulty. Russo-Japanese war was raging in the Manchuria. Men fought and died, and women were dealing with other kinds of problems at home, working hard in textile factories, and trying hard to get by. The most important industry during the meiji era was cotton. Most of the workers were women, the conditions in cotton factories were hard, and there was much abuse. Tuberculosis spread. Factory law enacted in 1911 improved the situation, but midnight work hours were not prohibited until 1929.

Japan went literally bankrupt after expensive and exhausting war. It was this time, when women's low social status became to attention. Sakai Toshihiko's Danjo kankei no shinka (The evolution of the Male-Female Relationship) was first published on 1908 and republished as Danjo sotoshi (History of the Struggle between Men and Women). Her work was pioneering - something that was never done before.

Unofficial Joan of Arc of Japan, Fukuda Hineko started magazine Sekai fujin in 1907, which handled number of topics, women's rights and poor conditions in textile factories. It is important to not to think of Fukuda's work as feminist, as she didn't believe to the freedom of the women, but "freedom of humanness". Every person should be able to nurture the humanness in themselves, she stated. Fukuda was imprisoned for participating at the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. She talked about the desire to the equality in her book Prison Recollection:

"If women's rights are enhanced and the equalities between sexes is achieved, all of the 37 million women will participate in politics, surely save the state, and removed wrong politics and law. Moreover, the women might come to love countries more if the women bring up the culture with men. So I determined to participate in the movement for liberation. I wished keenly like this." -Prison Recollection

In middle of the Meiji era Shokugyo Fujin "Lady Worker" who occupied intellectual or skill occupation, increased. Appearance of woman teachers was a big step as well as midwives, and nurses. Nippon Bank was one of the first companies that employed woman assistants. Sadly, still most of the women had to work in cotton industry.

Seito magazine (1911-1916) by Hiratsuka Raicho said following:

In the beginning, woman was the sun. An authentic person. Today, woman is the moon. Living through others. Reflecting the brilliance of others, such as the pale moon. We have to regain the sun in ourselves disappeared.

Taisho period 1912-1926

Japan's occupation in Manchuria and continuation of expansion to China started the Second Sino-Japanese War. Japan faced economic troubles despite the profits from WWII. In 1922 Chian Keisatsu law was amended to allow women to attend political meetings but not as members. Rice riots and labor disputes appeared but soon be forgotten. Nothing could stop the militaristic state.

In 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake took lives of 140 000 people.

Both, Meiji and Taisho periods, were a season of depression of female writers. Only the most conservatives works were praised by male critics, and even they were judged by different criteria from those applied to men. There was however few women who worked hard to publish their works. One is ethnologist called Kiyoko Segawa, who was student of Yanagita Kunio. Segawa did extensive study of folkwear in early 30's Japan. She travelled through the country and interviewed local women about their traditional wear. Segawa is also famous of her book about ama, traditional Japanese pearl diver.

In Taisho period women developed a new modern style, this was wonderfully described in Junichiro Tanizaki's novel Naomi. This style was influenced from European style.

Showa Period 1926-1989

Century of Women The painting on right is artist Nakamura Daizaburo's "Woman" from 1930. Women wore sophisticated kimonos and western hairstyles. Notice the western furniture in the Daizaburo's painting.

Japan's attack to US naval base in Pearl Harbor lead to war with United States. Japan's fought a war that was expensive and exhausting. Women had to work harder in dangerous ammunition factories. The work was hazardous and dangerous. American forces begun strategic firebombing of Tokyo and other cities. Eventually American forces dropped two atom bombs, one to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. These bombs killed about 214 000 people who were mostly civilians including women and children. During American landing to Okinawa , thousands of mothers committed mass suicides with their families with grenades in fear of becoming captives by the enemy. Imperial war propaganda told people that they must serve their country by taking their own lives rather than becoming captives to the unknown, ruthless enemy.

Women rebuilt the devastated cities together with men, nurses healed the wounded, families remembered their dead. Women got right to vote in 1945, which was supported by occupied forces. In 1946, the new pacific constitution was written. It declared the marriage would be solely based on agreement of both parties, husband and wife, who both have equal rights. Before then, women were not guaranteed civil rights or legal rights. At the same year, Kenji Mizoguchi released his movie "Victory of Women" starring with Kinuyo Tanaka, which is still a cornerstone of women's rights in Japan.

Machiko Hasegawa's Sazae-san comic strip brought smile to Japanese lips despite the hard conditions.

Do you want to learn about
traditional Japanese performer?
Check out Geisha.

Japan was occupied by American forces until 1952. This occupation time had it's share of problems, mostly because it brought up a lot of crime and prostitution. During this time, prostitution was legal. The occupation time was well described by Kaiko Takeshi in her short story "Aru Koe". This story is inluded in The Mother of Dreams edited by Makoto Ueda. Anti-Prostitution law took place in 1956, which made organized prostitution illegal. Despite it's loopholes, it was important step to improve the position of Japanese women.

Women's Liberation movement started from 1960's.

Years 1968 - 1969 were time of student strikes and protests against Vietnam War. In 1976 Nagisa Oshima published his movie The Realm of Senses "Ai no corrida". The movie was a breakthrough of sexual freedom and was first banned in Japan. The movie portrait women in different manner than other movies never have.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Law was passed in 1986 to ensure that men and women have equal opportunities and working conditions. This was expected to correct the imbalance in wages. Also, this time the law that prevented women from working late hours was done was removed.

Heisei period 1989 - >

Sadly, the recession in 90's influenced wrongfully women's opportunities to get a job. Japanese women in uniform

There is still a lot of work to do. Despite the established maternity leave system, potentially future pregnant women may not get the job.

Although the history has years of sexual discrimination against women, novels by Japanese female writers have bloomed through ages. Tale of Kenji, the mother of all novels, is written by a woman.

Perhaps it's good to take the phrase “Good wife and wise mother” in a new way now. Through the centuries, Japan has been a country of good wives and wise mothers. Both of us, men and women, should give freedom to this thought and nurture feminine thinking in ourselves.