Japanese Women's History - Fall 2026 Week 7
Japanese Women's History: Monday 5th Period (月）5限
MONDAY
Japanese Women's History (Fall 2026)
下記の方法に従うこと
READ THE DIRECTIONS
WEEK 7Women's HistoryNovember 9 [月] ~ November 15 [日] |
2026 Fall SemesterJapanese Women's History(Monday) 5th period15:20~17:00 [14 weeks] (10 classroom meetings) | ||
| Class Week | Day | Location |
| 1 | 9/28 | 6017 教室 |
| 2 | 10/5 | 6017 教室 |
| 3 | 10/12 | 6017 教室 |
| 4 | 10/19 | website only (no classroom) |
| TRIP | 10/24 (Sat.) | SOJI-JI Monastery (optional) 09:00~12:30 |
| 5 | 10/26 | 6017 教室 |
| 6 | 11/2 | website only (no classroom) |
| | 11/2 trip (optional) | YOKOHAMA on foot (not required) |
| 7 | 11/9 | 6017 教室 |
| TRIP | 11/14 (Sat.) | Kamakura tour [on foot] (optional) 09:00~12:00 & 13:00~15:00 |
| 8 | 11/16 | 6017 教室 |
| 9 | 11/23 | 6017 教室 |
| 10 | 11/30 | website only (no classroom) |
| 11 | 12/7 | 6017 教室 |
| 12 | 12/14 | 6017 教室 |
| 13 | 12/21 | 6017 教室 |
| 14 | 2026/1/18 | website only (no classroom) |
SECTION 1: ReadingREQUIRED AssignmentComplete : 提出期限 November 15 (10pm) (Sunday) 11月15日 (22:00) (日) | ||
| -Task 1: Read the two webpages -Task 2: Do the assignment | ||
 | LINKs:(1) https://unseen-japan.com/feminist-movement-in-japan-meiji-wwii/(2) https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/history/japanese-feminists-history/ 1. Early Feminism課題 リーデイング REQUIRED | |
https://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/history/japanese-feminists-history/ | ||
Murasaki Shikibu |
Lady Murasaki (c. 973 - c. 1014) |
| Murasaki is one of the most famous writers in Japanese and world history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu |
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Heian women were traditionally excluded from learning Chinese, the written language of government, but Murasaki, raised in her erudite father's household, showed a precocious aptitude for the Chinese classics and managed to acquire fluency. She married in her mid-to-late twenties and gave birth to a daughter, Daini no Sanmi. Her husband died after two years of marriage. It is uncertain when she began to write The Tale of Genji, but it was probably while she was married or shortly after she was widowed. In about 1005, she was invited to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shōshi at the Imperial court by Fujiwara no Michinaga, probably because of her reputation as a writer. She continued to write during her service, adding scenes from court life to her work. After five or six years, she left court and retired with Shōshi to the Lake Biwa region. Scholars differ on the year of her death; although most agree on 1014, others have suggested she was alive in 1025. |
FIELD TRIP 03NOT Required, but can use this trip for class credit. November 14 (Saturday)09:00~12:30 & 13:00~15:1509:00 PORTA Escalators in Yokohama Station 09:00~15:15鎌倉 | ||
 | KAMAKURABring about ¥1000 cash because some spots have a small entrance charge.And you might want to eat some food or buy souvenirs, so have some money for that. | |
November 14 (Saturday)09:00~12:30 & 13:00~15:15This is a short historical tour (on foot) around Kamakura, which was the center of power in Japan from 1185 to 1333 CE. Anyone can attend, not just my students. If you only want to stay half a day, you can leave the trip after 12:30. We will return to Kamakura Station at around 12:30. 09:00 we'll meet at Yokohama Station and travel to Kamakura 09:30~12:30 walk around main shrine of Hachimangu and downtown apx. 12:30 return to station area. There is a McDonald's and convenience stores for a quick lunch. 13:00~15:00 we'll take the Enoshima line to visit Hasadera (temple) and finally the Big Buddha. 15:15 we should be back at the local Hasadera station by apx. 15:15 Saturday, November 14 | ||
Students can use this field trip for class credit. | ||
Murasaki Shikibu |
Lady Murasaki (c. 973 - c. 1014) |
| Murasaki is one of the most famous writers in Japanese and world history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murasaki_Shikibu |
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Heian women were traditionally excluded from learning Chinese, the written language of government, but Murasaki, raised in her erudite father's household, showed a precocious aptitude for the Chinese classics and managed to acquire fluency. She married in her mid-to-late twenties and gave birth to a daughter, Daini no Sanmi. Her husband died after two years of marriage. It is uncertain when she began to write The Tale of Genji, but it was probably while she was married or shortly after she was widowed. In about 1005, she was invited to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Empress Shōshi at the Imperial court by Fujiwara no Michinaga, probably because of her reputation as a writer. She continued to write during her service, adding scenes from court life to her work. After five or six years, she left court and retired with Shōshi to the Lake Biwa region. Scholars differ on the year of her death; although most agree on 1014, others have suggested she was alive in 1025. |
UPDATE |
Tubal ligation - Voluntary Sterilization |
| This is an update to what we discussed in class. I wasn't entirely clear in class. Tubal ligation or voluntary sterilization is illegal in Japan, even for non-married women. It's only allowed if it is absolutely medically necessary. In the case of a married woman, she must also receive her husband's consent. Below is a link to an article about women who have been challenging the law. |
 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/13/japan/crime-legal/sterilization-right-lawsuit/ |
Tubal ligation is strictly restricted in Japan, and is only permitted under narrow medical conditions with spousal consent. Legal Restrictions
Availability and Access
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Japan has had at least eight historical female emperors (known as josei tennō or empresses regnant) ruling across ten distinct reigns. Probability and pattern analysis indicates that there have been quite a few more than eight, who ruled before year 593. All historical female monarchs belonged to the paternal male bloodline of the imperial family, often ascending the throne as transitional or stabilizing rulers when male heirs were too young or succession was contested. The List of Female Emperors
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Prehistoric and Ancient Eras
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Contact (email) Theron Fairchildtheron at mailfence dot com | |
SECTION 1Student InformationREQUIREDComplete : 提出期限October 11 (10pm) (Sunday) 10月11日 (22:00) (日) | ||
| Please provide a working email address. | ||
 | 1. Student InformationPlease provide an email address that you want to use for contact with Theron Fairchild. | |
| Geisha (Geiko) vs. Maiko Geisha (Tokyo) / Geiko (Kyoto) | |
| Kyoto Theater (Geisha & Maiko performances) Geisha & Maiko on stage together @3:00 | |
| Kyoto: Senior Maiko Perfromance with Senior Geisha Musician | |
| Makeup of Low-Ranking (Junior) Geisha Makeup @7:15; Junior & Senior together @14:45 | |
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| Geisha Early Beginnings (1730s–1750s)
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| Noh Drama - Demon Plays (influence on anime) Noh is very stylized: masks and sound are important | |
| Kabuki - Boy Actor Kabuki emerged during the Edo period (stylized dance and costumes) | |
| Butoh: Post-Modern Dance Essentilist physical expressionism but borrows traditional Noh and Kabuki characteristcs | |
| Butoh Group: Water Dance | |
| Kodo - O-Daiko | |
| Yujo (遊女 = prostitute) vs. Oiran (花魁 = courtesan) | |
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| Oiran vs. Geisha | |
Oiran were historically considered higher in social status and price than regular geisha during the Edo period, though they belonged to completely different professions. Key Differences:Oiran (花魁): Elite, high-ranking courtesans in licensed pleasure quarters who combined traditional arts with sexual companionship. They were fashion icons and extremely expensive, sometimes costing a regular worker's yearly salary for a visit. The profession died out by the end of the 19th century. Geisha (芸者): Professional performing artists who specialized in music, dance, games, and conversation, and were strictly forbidden from prostitution. When geisha first emerged, they were actually restricted from competing with or outshining the higher-status oiran. Over time, as the licensed pleasure quarters declined and prostitution was outlawed, the oiran vanished, while the artistic Geisha tradition survived into the modern era. | |
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A girl typically debuted as a full oiran at about age 17, after beginning her training as a young child. The Timeline of an Oiran's Life:
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Japan has had eight historical female emperors (known as josei tennō or empresses regnant) ruling across ten distinct reigns. All historical female monarchs belonged to the paternal male bloodline of the imperial family, often ascending the throne as transitional or stabilizing rulers when male heirs were too young or succession was contested. The List of Female Emperors
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ATTENTION There are still many openings in this seminar. Please join if you have the time. | |
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Seminar: Japanese Women’s History Topic: Studies in women (and children) in society, law, labor, politics, business, war, literature, and the arts in Japan’s history. The light and the dark of Japan’s history. Registration ID: 21GK006 Seminars on Specific Topics テーマ演習 Monday 5th period (17:10) 月5 Theron Fairchild セロン フェアチャイルド This seminar is scheduled from 17:10 until 18:50, but we will be done with the classroom portion by 18:00 each week. Students can leave after 18:00 and use their own time to complete a short weekly or biweekly reading or video assignment. The seminar uses video and some short reading articles. There are NO EXAMINATIONS in this seminar. Women in Japan have played important roles in Japan for centuries, but they are generally overlooked in the typical elitist and traditional histories of Japan that focus on national power. Women have been emperors, literary masters, inventors of art forms, as well as the economic and political heads of powerful families, reliable educators to both poor and rich families, and key modern reformers, sometimes at the cost of their own lives. The story of Japanese women, and children, shows a side of the country that is often ignored in the “export branding” of Japan as a land of strong samurai, beautiful aesthetics, and cute anime. Do you wish to join this seminar? __ Yes. I will go to administration and sign up (enroll) by myself. __ Yes. But I want Theron to enroll me {CLICK HERE}. | |
