International Women’s Day (IWD) is a holiday celebrated annually on March 8 with a focal point in the women’s rights movement. Here at Savvy Tokyo, we wanted to share with our readers some ways this day can be celebrated in and around Tokyo! First, get to know the history of IWD in Japan, from its early beginnings here in 1923. Then, read on for Tokyo’s many IWD events where you can celebrate the history and victories of women’s rights in Japan and learn what work still needs to be done to advance gender equality. While you’re at it, why not consider volunteering for a Japan-based organization focusing on women’s empowerment?

The History of International Women’s Day in Japan

© Photo by iStock: Vittorio Gravino

While the first International Women’s Day was held on March 11, 1911 in several European countries, its roots lay in the United States a few years earlier. In 1909, the Socialist Party of America organized the first National Women’s Day in New York City to protest the poor labor conditions facing female garment workers. During World War I, these marches also became key sites for anti-war protests across the globe. March 8th became the official day when Russian women protested against food shortages, the war and the czarist government.

In 1923, the feminist socialist group, Akarankai organized Japan’s first International Women’s Day march to call for women’s liberation. As with other marches around the world, socialism’s critiques against capitalism’s enslavement of women drove the protest’s messages. The protest was violently suppressed by the police and the next International Women’s Day wouldn’t be held in Japan again until 1947. Since then, annual marches have taken place to call for gender equality and world peace. In recent years, marches have focused on ending war, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and closing the gender pay gap.

International Women’s Day Events in Tokyo for 2026

To celebrate International Women’s Day in Tokyo this year, join like-minded people at the exciting events below. Whatever angle of IWD interests you, you are sure to find an event of interest in Tokyo this March!

Happy Woman Festa Tokyo 2026

© Photo by Happy Woman Festa Tokyo 2025

The Happy Woman Festa 2026 is a series of events organized to celebrate IWD across Japan. The theme this year is Towards a future where happiness circulates. Make sure to reserve your seat in advance!

• Date: March 8, 2026
• Times: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.(Happy Woman Festa 2026)
• Address: United Nations University, 5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
• Cost: Free!
• Note: The dress code for the Happy Woman Festa 2026 is yellow, the official color for IWD.

College Women’s Association of Japan’s Celebrates International Women’s Day

© Photo by College Women’s Association of Japan

CWAJ marks International Women’s Day with a special staged reading of Mimoza Ways. The performance explores 100 years of Japanese women’s history, from the Seito Movement led by feminist pioneer Hiratsuka Raicho to the present day, blending reflection with moments of humor. A Japanese-French co-production that has received acclaim since its 2022 premiere, Mimoza Ways is the first Japanese production to trace a century of women’s experiences in this way. The reading is directed by Yu Yamagami and features Tsurumatsu Matsukuma, Yuko Ueno, Rena Koto and Yu Yamagami. Following the performance, a talk session with producer and translator Namino Rivoal Hori, along with the director and cast, will offer further insight and discussion. The event will be in Japanese.

• Date: March 6, 2026
• Time: 7-9 p.m.
• Address: Theater X, Ryogoku City Core 1F, 2-10-14 Ryogoku, Sumida, Tokyo
• Cost: ¥4,000

The Yellow Walk & Mimosa Day Award Party

Dress in yellow and join a vibrant celebration that will turn Tokyo into a moving field of mimosa! On March 7, the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ICCJ)’s Yellow Walk kicks off at the Italian Embassy, winding through the city in a powerful tribute to International Women’s Day before arriving at the iconic Tokyo Tower. The celebration doesn’t stop there either. Afterward, you can join the exclusive Mimosa Day Award Party, where you’ll enjoy live DJ music, signature cocktails and finger food while soaking in the classic high-rise view of Tokyo.

• Date: March 6, 2026
• Meeting time: 5:45 p.m.
• Walk time: 6-9 p.m.
• Address: Tokyo Tower Main Deck 1F, 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo
• Cost: Free to walk; Yellow Walk + Mimosa Day Award Party (includes a ticket to Tokyo Tower Main Deck, all-you-can-eat buffet and drink); ICCJ Members: ¥6,600; Non-Members: 8,800; Mimosa Day Award Party only: ICCJ Members: ¥8,800; Non-Members: 11,000
• Note: Dress as yellow as possible!

International Women’s Day Breakfast & Panel Discussion Australian Embassy Tokyo

The Australian and New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ANZCCJ) invites you to Pullman Tokyo Tamachi for IWD 2026. This year’s theme is “Give to Gain” and will feature a panel discussion with several senior business leaders. Over breakfast, these panelists will highlight single mothers and single-parent households living in Japan.

• Date: March 6, 2026
• Time: 8 a.m.-9 a.m. (doors open at 7:30 a.m.)
• Address: Pullman Tokyo Tamachi ​Banquet Room 9F, 3-1-21 Shibaura Minato, Tokyo
• Cost: ¥10,000 (ANZCCJ members), ¥12,000 (non-ANZCCJ members)
• Note: Attendees must register by Feb. 27, 2026

Women’s March Tokyo 2026

As with other IWD events globally, the Women’s Day March in Tokyo will be one of this year’s main events. This event has been held in the city since 2017. The one-kilometer march will begin and end at Jingu-dori Park in Shibuya Ward and all participants are invited to the after-party. Attendees who don’t want to be photographed can gather together behind a “no photos” sign during the event. Come join others to call for gender equality and an end to violence.

• Date: March 8, 2026
• Meeting time: 5:30 p.m.
• Start time: 6 p.m.
• Address: 6-22-8 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
• Cost: Free!

Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s International Women’s Day Specials

Grand Hyatt Tokyo Hotel will be offering a variety of IWD specials. At the Mimosa Dinner – The French Kitchen, between March 1 and 8, offer the women in your life the stunning Mimosa Mousse Cake, designed by women patissiers. Whether you are sampling their seafood saffron nage or digging into a mimosa rare cheesecake, mark this year’s IWD with upscale dining!

• Date: March 1 – 8, 2026
• Address: Grand Hyatt Tokyo, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Cost: Prices vary depending on the dish or course.

Mimosa Week

For up-to-date information about the state of women in Japan alongside beautiful illuminations, head to the Former Kunitachi Station. Inside this historic building, you can learn about recent developments in women’s issues on poster boards. Join a workshop on the eighth on how to make mimosa badges to show your support for women’s equality. Also, read up on several gender-related case studies exploring the experiences of women. As a special treat, there will be an illumination event featuring using yellow lights, the official color of IWD.

• Date: March 5- 10, 2026
• Address: Former Kunitachi Station Building, 1-1-69 Higashi, Kunitachi, Tokyo
• Cost: Free!

BCCJ’s International Women’s Day 2026

The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan (BCCJ) will be hosting talks over dinner for International Women’s Day. Her Excellency Julia Longbottom CMG, British Ambassador to Japan, will speak on explring leadership and her experiences leading the UK-Japan relationship alongside voices from business and civil society. Offering an opprotunity for open dialog and collaboration, this event is open to all genders.

• Date: March 18, 2026
• Time: 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Address: PwC Tokyo, 1-2-1, Otemachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo
• Cost: ¥5,000 (BCCJ members); ¥8,000 (non-members)

We hope you enjoy your International Women’s Day in Japan! How are you planning on celebrating?

This year is already shaping up to be a monumental year for Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi. After calling a snap election in February, a record number of women joined the campaign trail (24.4% of all candidates). The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won by a landslide, grabbing 316 out of 465 seats in the House of Representatives. Overall, female candidates won 68 seats in the lower house, adding to the list of must-know women in Japanese politics today.

Although sizable, it’s still lower than the 73 seats won by women in the 2024 election. It also falls short of the government’s mandate to ensure an equal number of male and female members in the Diet, as set out in the 2018 Act on the Promotion of Gender Equality in the Political Field. Globally, Japan also ranks pretty low in gender affairs, at position 118 out of 148 countries in the latest World Economic Forum Gender Gap Index (June 2025). 

Still, there’s hope. These are the 68 seats won by women, by political party affiliation:

• Liberal Democratic Party (LDP): 39 out of 316 seats 
• Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA): 8 out of 49 seats 
• Democratic Party for the People (DPP): 8 out of 28 seats
• Sanseito: 8 out of 15 seats 
• Team Mirai: 2 out of 11 seats 
• Japanese Communist Party: 2 out of 4 seats 
• Japan Innovation Party: 1 out of 36 seats

Overall, women now make up 14.6% of the newly elected members of the lower house. With this in mind, who are the women in Japanese politics?

Ayuko Kato (LDP)

Winning her constituency seat in Yamagata Prefecture, this Columbia University graduate is now serving her fifth term in government. Ayuko Kato hails from a family of politicians. Her father, Koichi Kato, was the LDP’s Secretary General and Chief Cabinet Secretary, while her grandfather, Seizo Kato, served in the House of Representatives.

Like her dad, she believes that listening to the people is the key to good politics. The mother of two boys has previously served as Minister of State for child policy, gender equality, youth empowerment and the declining birth rate. This must-know female Japanese politician is considered a next-generation LDP leader, hoping to follow in Takaichi’s footsteps.

Hikaru Fujita (LDP)

Hikaru Fujita shocked everyone when she announced her first pregnancy on the campaign trail. On February 8, the Harvard-educated former diplomat won her seat in Nagano Prefecture. Even though some locals think she’s a waste of time, she hopes to inspire more young women to enter politics, even as expectant mothers. 

Fujita grew up admiring her grandparents who farmed rice and tobacco in the mountains. Over the years, she has volunteered for nonprofits abroad, spent a decade with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and completed a stint with global consulting firm McKinsey & Company. 

She believes that responsible child-rearing and regional revitalization are keys to a new Japan. The future looks bright for this one.

Kimi Onoda (LDP)

As Minister in charge of economic security, “cool Japan” and “a society of well-ordered and harmonious existence with foreign nationals,”  House of Councillors member Kimi Onoda certainly has some big shoes to fill. 

Born in Illinois, USA, to a Japanese mother and American father, she and her mother moved back to Okayama Prefecture when she was one year old. Since she was a little girl, she has admired superheroes, particularly those in Super Sentai and Dragon Ball Z. 

Because of her strong sense of justice, she studied politics at university and entered the political game in 2011. In 2017, she finally renounced her American citizenship to show her dedication to her homeland. As one of only two women in Takaichi’s Cabinet, she is one to watch.

Satsuki Katayama (LDP)

Twice married, no kids but lots of firsts. Even in elementary school, one teacher wondered whether Satsuki Katayama would become a bride, a lawyer, an MP or the PM. Seems like the majority of those predictions came true for this high achiever. 

Unlike many of her female peers, after law school, she joined the Ministry of Finance at a time when few women held leadership positions there. She quickly rose through the ranks to become the first female in many departmental roles. 

After almost a quarter of a century in the public service,  she joined the political realm on an LDP ticket. After stints in the lower and upper houses of the Diet, in October 2025, she became the first female Minister of Finance and one of two women in Takaichi’s Cabinet. Previously, she was the only female in Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet at one point in time

Eri Yamada (Team Mirai)

Eri Yamada won the South Kanto block through proportional representation. She is one of two women who won seats in the Diet on a Team Mirai ticket. Team Mirai is a spanking new political party that believes that technology, including AI, can be used to increase efficiency in schools and government agencies. 

The former EPIC Records employee has a track record in politics, having served the Kawasaki City Council since 2019. Yamada first entered politics when she heard about a child murdering another child along her favorite Tama River. 

Since then, she has been vocal about child rearing, particularly inclusivity and offering childcare subsidy programs to all families, regardless of income level. 

Muto Kazuko (Team Mirai)

Like Yamada, Muto Kazuko is a new member of Parliament hailing from Japan’s youngest political party. Her priorities include childcare, particularly tax reduction for families with many children. She also supports using tech to deliver government services to those who need them. 

Prior to politics, the mother of two worked as a server engineer and project manager in IT for almost two decades. After retiring from the industry, she served a non-profit that supported single mothers. 

When she applied for the position of online secretary for Takahiro Yasuno (now the leader of Team Mirai), she had no idea that her entire life path would change. Let’s hope she makes a dent in the Diet.

Rina Yoshikawa (Sanseito)

Winning the Tokyo block seat through proportional representation, 38-year-old Rina Yoshikawa is one of eight women who emerged victorious for Sanseito in the election on February 8. The mother of three is also the deputy leader of the orange-hued party. 

Yoshikawa’s main platform is that mothers are important to safeguarding the future and raising Japanese children with “peace of mind.” The registered nurse who previously worked in cosmetic medicine also believes that Japanese people should live in a society where “health is the norm.”

Mayuko Toyota (Sanseito)

Mayuko Toyota won the seat for the North Kanto block through proportional representation. The ex-LDP MP now serves as a Board Member for ultraconservative Sanseito. The mother of two’s political platform emphasizes social security and education. 

The Harvard grad previously served the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Financial Services Agency and the Permanent Mission of Japan to International Organizations at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva. 

After nine years, Toyota has risen from the ashes of a tattered political career. In 2017, after serving two terms in the Diet, she resigned from her position after claims that she verbally and physically abused her male secretary surfaced. Let’s hope she treats her new political aide better than the last.

What do you think about these women in Japanese politics? Only time will tell whether they deliver on their campaign promises.

Looking for more girl power articles? Here’s one about the 5 most powerful women in Japan.

As the cold winds blow, we are really feeling the season now. In Europe, Italy is almost ready to host the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Which Japanese female athletes will climb the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics for figure skating? Mark your calendars: the competition runs from February 6 to 22. Here’s the lowdown on just some of the amazing Japanese female athletes hoping to make their nation proud on the world stage this year. 

Figure Skating Singles

Kaori Sakamoto

Figure skating is not just about flair. It’s also about athletic skill. This has always been the mantra of veteran skater Kaori Sakamoto. Since her senior debut in 2017, she has proved she can skate, jump and spin better than the rest. She is synonymous with charisma and clean skating.

Her career has been a host of superlatives: the first Japanese woman to participate in three consecutive Olympics and the first Japanese athlete to win three successive World Championships (2022-2024). Copping bronze at Beijing in 2022, after Milano-Cortina, she is more than happy to pass the baton and enjoy her retirement.

Kobe-born Sakamoto was first inspired to become a figure skater after watching the J-drama Teru Teru Kazoku. Since her debut, the Japanese superstar has transformed from a tomboyish athlete to a sophisticated queen on the ice. When she’s not at the rink, she loves driving, doing 400-500 piece puzzles and making origami.  

Ami Nakai

This will be Nakai’s Olympic debut. The Japanese female athlete is one to watch at this Winter Olympics. Last year, the seventeen-year-old rookie copped gold at the Grand Prix de France (beating fellow teammate Sakamoto), silver at the Grand Prix Final and bronze at Skate Canada. 

Even though the high schooler bungled her performance at the Japan Championships last December, the Japan Skating Federation has high hopes that she will perform well at Milano-Cortina. 

This Niigata-born ice queen is all about upping her game, with her all-or-nothing attitude. She was initially inspired to skate after watching three-time World Champion and Olympic vet Asada Mao skate in shiny costumes on TV. 

Nakai’s skating style has been described as “flowy,” “liquid” and “storytelling” on ice. Her signature move is the challenging triple axel. In her downtime, she likes listening to music. 

Mone Chiba

Like Nakai, this will be Chiba’s maiden games, but she’s no shrinking violet. Among other accolades, she’s won gold at the Four Continents Championships (2024), silver at the Grand Prix Final (2025) and bronze at the World Championships (2025).

Chiba was born in Sendai, the same hometown as legendary figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu. She considers Hanyu her idol and “big brother.” In her free time, the Waseda University student likes to wind down with a book or a spot of embroidery.

However, she has battled several health issues in the past. She even performed on the ice with gastroenteritis at the Four Continents Championships last year. Even though she didn’t medal, she believes in giving it all to the very end. 

Rinka Watanabe

First alternate is Rinka Watanabe. Already, she has climbed the podium at several major international competitions, including silver at Skate America (2025) and bronze in the Four Continents Championships (2024). 

The Chiba-born Watanabe started skating at four. After several setbacks due to injury, she wanted to quit skating but persevered to earn a place on the Japanese national Olympic team.  

The self-professed anime fan has a weird and wonderful hobby: collecting giant isopod merch. She’s also fluent in English, having lived with a host family during her pre-pandemic training days in Vancouver. And, she’s played Tony Tony Chopper on One Piece on Ice. Rinka-chan, you are a wonder!

Yuna Aoki

Second alternate is Yokohama-born Yuna Aoki. During her debut Four Continents Championships in January this year, she snatched gold. Fellow teammates Ami Nakai and Mone Chiba came in second and third, respectively. 

This Shizuka Arakawa fan is also the fourth woman in the history of the International Skating Union (ISU) competition to land the incredibly difficult triple Lutz-triple loop combination jump. 

Despite a series of injuries and a desire to retire at the end of university, she has continued to fight. Her skating has been described as “emotional” and “elegant,” one reason why she has been chosen for an Art on Ice show in Switzerland later this year. 

Pair Skating

Riku Miura/Ryuichi Kihara

Since their Olympic debut at the Beijing Games in 2022, Rikuryu has climbed the leaderboard in just four years, earning a string of achievements. World Champions and Four Continents Champions in 2023 and 2025. Grand Prix Final winners in 2022 and 2025. 

Now, the heat is on. Will they come away with gold at Milano-Cortina? After becoming world champions, they admitted that they felt the pressure to perform. Now, the pair says they are putting the title behind them and focusing on the Games. 

They are a team through and through, especially during the tough times. Despite Riku suffering a dislocated shoulder, the unstoppable pair pulled through the All Japan Figure Skating Championships last December, grabbing gold. They just get on with it. And the results are remarkable with the team spinning, lifting and twirling all the way to the podium.

Yuna Nagaoka/Sumitada Moriguchi

Following in Rikuryu’s footsteps is Yunasumi. Although they have only paired up since 2022, they have already achieved some formidable results. They copped first place in the Japan Championships in 2023 and 2025 and third in the Four Continents Championships (2026) and the Asian Winter Games (2025). 

Hokkaido-born Nagaoka and Kyoto-born Moriguchi have been dividing their time between Kyoto and Canada, training for international tournaments. Their signature moves are high-speed lifts and the triple twist lift.

Although they are feeling the pressure to perform, the young duo hopes to make a solid debut at the Milano-Cortina. Making a strong showing at the Games will definitely be a career highlight for Nagaoka who celebrated her Coming of Age in January this year. 

Will the Games inspire you to get out there this winter? Check out our beginner’s guide to skiing in Japan!

Japan made history in 2025 when it appointed its first-ever female Prime Minister. So far, Sanae Takaichi has impressed the Japanese population and conservative world leaders with her no-nonsense work ethic and social media savvy.

The Japanese “Iron Lady” (she’s a Maggie Thatcher fangirl) is also making waves overseas. Forbes Magazine dubbed her the third most powerful woman in the world in 2025. In fact, she was the only Japanese entrant out of one hundred women recognized for their influence over global affairs.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Report 2025, Japan still lags way behind in gender equality, ranking 118th out of 148 countries. This is not great news for the world’s fifth-largest economy. However, this doesn’t mean that Japan lacks influential female leaders. In fact, here’s what you should know about the most powerful women in Japan.

1. Naomi Watanabe

The first on our list of powerful women in Japan, Naomi Watanabe isn’t called “Japanese Beyoncé” for nothing. Since her debut impression of the American diva on TV in 2008, this Taiwan-born comedian has catapulted into the stratosphere. 

Watanabe’s star power has since grown aggressively, with high visibility on social media and partnerships with global brands. Unlike many other celebrities, the “pocha kawaii” (cute and chubby) Watanabe is no dummy when it comes to show business. 

Japan’s highest-paid female entertainer shrewdly controls her image and intellectual property. Her empire also includes a clothing line, Punyus. Unlike many Japanese fashion brands, hers celebrates body positivity, catering to anyone who is not stick-thin.

Growing up poor in a single-mother household in Ibaraki, life was not always easy for Watanabe. Also bullied in school, she sought solace in front of the screen. What started as her clowning around in middle school led to her moving to Tokyo to do sketch comedy. Now she calls New York home. Who’s laughing now, right?

Since then, Watanabe’s influencer game has been validated globally, including being ranked on the BBC 100 Women 2024 list. Time will only tell what’s next for the parody queen.

2. Yuriko Koike

For Tokyoites, Yuriko Koike is no stranger. In 2016, she became the first female Tokyo Governor. Today, already well into her third term, she calls the shots in a global city of more than 9 million. 

Following her father’s advice to challenge the status quo always, Koike studied Arabic at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. On returning to Japan, she worked as a translator and then as an economic news anchor for Nippon TV.  

Koike then switched to politics in 1992, joining the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Her ministerial portfolio included many firsts, including first female Minister of Defence. Under her leadership as Minister of the Environment, she also spearheaded the Cool Biz campaign.

Since then, her charisma and political clout have become legendary. Like the current Japanese PM, Koike also made Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women in 2023. In fact, Koike was first tipped to be Japan’s first female PM but Takaichi beat her to the chase.

As one of Japan’s most powerful women, Koike has always been vocal about the gender gap in Japanese society, calling the glass ceiling an “iron plate” that makes it difficult for women to ascend the corporate ladder. 

Under her leadership as Tokyo Governor, she has weathered many storms, including the COVID pandemic and the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games. Koike continues to spearhead environmental sustainability and women’s issues, even coining the term “iku-gyo” (childcare as a mission) rather than the normal “iku-kyu” (childcare as rest).

3. Makiko Ono

Making the cut for Fortune’s 2025 list of the most powerful women in business is Makiko Ono. After more than forty years at the same company, Ono clambered up the ranks to take the helm as president of Suntory Beverage and Food in 2023. In doing so, she became the first woman in the driver’s seat at a major listed Japanese company. 

It was just one of many firsts for the Kanagawa-born trailblazer. She also advocated to become the first woman boss Suntory assigned abroad. In France, she acquired the reputable vineyard Château Lagarde and during her posting in England, she snatched up Lucozade and Ribena for the drinks giant.

The Tokyo Uni graduate admits that breaking the glass ceiling in Japan is more difficult than in the West. Last year, she told the Broadsheet, a Fortune magazine newsletter, that while Japan does have fewer women in the C-suite, “I just happened to be female.” She hopes her appointment will inspire younger women in Japan to achieve as much or more.

4. Rei Kawakubo

With over five decades in the business, Rei Kawakubo is synonymous with avant-garde fashion. Notoriously media shy, the blunt bob-wearing designer prefers to let her designs do the talking. Her aesthetic has been described as “visionary” and “anti-fashion.” She also holds the honor of being one of only two designers celebrated by the Met Gala in New York.

The self-taught artist’s Comme des Garçons label consistently challenges conventional ideals of beauty and fashion. Her designs are often difficult to categorize, with dramatic and often distorted shapes, asymmetrical lines, holes and exposed seams that hide rather than flatter the body.

Her influence on global fashion has been so pervasive that she has been called “the mother of deconstruction.” To date, she has received many accolades, including the Isamu Noguchi Award for innovation in 2019. Now, the co-founder of Dover Street Market continues to push boundaries and pursue the new.

5. Mitsuko Tottori

Rounding up our list of powerful women in Japan is Mitsuko Tottori. She shattered the ceiling when she became the first female CEO of Japan Airlines (JAL) in 2024. Similar to Ono, the Fukuoka-native moved up the corporate ladder, from a humble flight attendant to president.

Her career trajectory is far from the norm, described as “non-elite” compared to that of past JAL CEOs. Like Ono, Tottori also made the list of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business this year. This powerful Japanese woman also made the cut in 2024.

Her leadership stint, however, has been no stranger to controversy. In 2025, her pay was docked for two months after the company experienced an incident involving two drunk pilots who caused a major flight delay on a Melbourne to Tokyo flight. In spite of this, this women’s college graduate continues to cut a path in corporate Japan for younger women to emulate.

Do you agree with our list? Who are other powerful women in Japan you think should be included? We want to hear from you!

Born in 1959 into a Chinese–Filipino family in the Philippines, Cynthia Usui, Chief Empowerment Officer of Sekaia Inc., came to Japan in 1980 as a government-sponsored international student and graduated from Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. She once imagined a traditional professional path, but life took her across countries and roles, including a long period as a full-time homemaker. Married to a Japanese diplomat, she spent nearly two decades raising her daughter while living in multiple countries before eventually becoming a Japanese national and calling Tokyo home.

At age 47—when most people believe “it’s too late to start over”—Cynthia re-entered the workforce with a part-time cafeteria job. She began what would become one of Japan’s most remarkable second-career stories. From hospitality roles at major hotels, including ANA InterContinental Tokyo and Shangri-La, she went on to lead Tokyo 2020 hospitality at Coca-Cola. She later became a country manager in the hotel industry and then a manager at a major global IT company. Today, she serves as an advisor to an NPO that supports single mothers, while being recognized as a LinkedIn influencer and published author who advocates for career breaks.

Career Breaks by Cynthia Usui

Cynthia’s beliefs are rooted in lived experience. After a 17-year career break, she learned firsthand that stepping away from work is not the end of a career. It can become the beginning of a more authentic one. She calls herself the “Cinderella of stay-at-home moms,” not because she waited for the clock to strike midnight. But because she transformed “ordinary” and “unemployed” into extraordinary and unstoppable through curiosity, humility and persistence.

Her message is simple but radical:

“A career break is not a career end.”

Career pauses also create space for growth, resilience and new perspectives—qualities that enrich professional life later. Through storytelling, writing and mentoring, she now champions women who are restarting professional journeys after motherhood, caregiving, relocation or personal transitions.

What makes Cynthia inspiring is not only that she achieved senior roles. It is the fact that she began again when most people believe the window has closed. She has proven, through her own example, that it is never too late to reinvent oneself. Opportunity doesn’t fade with age, gender or circumstance. She stands for possibility, for second chances and for the power of saying “yes” even when your confidence says “not yet.”

Today, through Career Hub, her books and her platform on LinkedIn, Cynthia empowers a new generation of women to believe that every chapter counts—and that the time spent away from work doesn’t erase your potential. It expands it.

Cynthia’s Japan Recommendations

• Take the train and get out of central Tokyo to see how regular people live.

Visit Cynthia’s website for more information about her and her work.

Her books are all available on Amazon (Japanese language):

• 人生は、もっと、自分で決めていい (Jinsei wa, motto, jibun de kimete ii; “You’re allowed to decide more of your own life.”)
• ハーバード、イェール、プリンストン大学に合格した娘は、どう育てられたか ママ・シンシアの自力のつく子育て術33 (Hābādo, Yēru, Purinsuton Daigaku ni gōkaku shita musume wa, dō sodaterareta ka: Mama Shinshia no jiriki no tsuku kosodatejutsu 33; “How was the daughter who got into Harvard, Yale and Princeton raised? Cynthia’s 33 child-raising methods for building independence.”)
• 専業主婦が就職するまでにやっておくべき8つのこと (Sengyō shufu ga shūshoku suru made ni yatte oku beki yattsu no koto; “Eight things a full-time homemaker should do before getting a job.”)

If you would like to follow Cynthia Usui personally, you can find her over on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

If you have someone in mind you would like us to interview for Savvy Spotlight, please leave a comment below with your recommendations.

Japan’s a treasure trove of musical talent, with numerous all-female and female-led bands spanning diverse genres. While it’s impossible to compile an exhaustive list, we invite readers to begin exploring, as there’s plenty to discover.

1. The Jazz Avengers

With heroic solos, funky rhythms and chic feminine attire, The Jazz Avengers harness the language of jazz and womanly power. This up-and-coming all-female Japanese ensemble is led by award-winning drummer Senri Kawaguchi. The Jazz Avengers features a quartet of highly skilled saxophonists: Miku Yonezawa, Miho Terachi, WaKaNa and Ami Nakazon.

Joining forces with Chizuru Segawa on guitar, Marie Takeda on keyboard and Juna Serita on bass, the group creates upbeat compositions that blend jazz fusion with pop sensibilities, opening up the world of jazz to a broader audience.

As The Jazz Avengers prepare for their next release, new listeners can grab tickets to an upcoming show or get acquainted with their self-titled debut album, The Jazz Avengers, or their second album, 8 Steps.

2. OOIOO

At times meditative, other times wonderfully chaotic, OOIOO is an all-female Japanese rock band that invites you into a world of sonic experimentation. The group is led by multifaceted musician and composer YoshimiO, also known as Yoshimi P-We from Boredoms—an infamous Japanese rock group that collaborated with some of America’s big hit-making rock groups such as Nirvana and The Flaming Lips.

OOIOO’s avant-garde approach to music has been a source of fascination since their inception in 1995. They ventured into uncharted territories, combining elements of psychedelia, tribal rhythms and noise into their sound, often experimenting with their recording and performance style. The current lineup includes YoshimiO on vocals and guitar, AYA on bass, Mishina on drums, and kAyAn on guitar, vocals and keyboard.

Their upcoming concerts at Shindaita Fever (Sep. 17, 2025) and Shibuya Club Quattro (Oct. 7, 2025) promise an exhilarating experience.

3. 12 Violinists

Jump roping, riding a unicycle and playing kendama (a Japanese skill toy/game)—while playing the violin? 12 Violinists, an all-female Japanese ensemble, has made it their mission to challenge the conventional perception of highbrow classical violin performances.

Founded by the talented Chisako Takashima, a distinguished musician from Yale University’s Department of Music and former member of the New World Symphony orchestra in Miami, this twelve-piece ensemble merges virtuosity with light-hearted entertainment. The group’s dedication to making classical music more accessible and enjoyable is evident in their televised performances on Nippon TV, Fuji TV, TV Asahi and many others, breaking formalities while maintaining masterful technique.

Their 2025 to 2026 concert tour across Japan promises to entertain and share the joy of playing violin with a growing audience.

4. Perfume

With vibrant colors, futuristic fashion, and an elegant aesthetic, it’s no wonder that the Japanese girl group Perfume has been dazzling audiences with their music videos and live performances. The voices of Ayaka “A-chan” Nishiwaki, Ayano “Nocchi” Omoto and Yuka “Kashiyuka” Kashinois make up this sweet-scented trio.

Perfume is known for infusing electronic and techno elements with J-pop. At times bursting with high energy, and other times embracing a more nostalgic and mellow sound, they know how to keep their audience engaged and eager for what’s next.

With the release of their new album for “Nebula Romance Part 2” in September 2025, Perfume continues to capture hearts with their simple yet celestial air.

5. Rin’

It’s not every day that you hear traditional Japanese instruments like the koto, shamisen, biwa and shakuhachi in contemporary music. Rin’ has set out to change that. Comprising talented female alumni from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Rin’ seamlessly blends traditional Japanese music with modern influences such as pop and rock.

The ensemble consists of three vocalists, Mana Yoshinaga, Chie Arai and Tomoka Nagasu, who interchangeably play the koto, sangen, jushichigen, biwa, shamisen and shakuhachi. After a 10-year hiatus, the trio reunited with a renewed energy and creative vision, collaborating with dancers, digital artists and kimono designers.

Moreover, they traveled to historic locations, including Nakagusuku Castle and Tsuruga Castle ruins, where they performed and recorded stunning music videos that showcased the cultural heritage and beauty of Japanese landscapes.

Although no new albums have been released since June 2023, you can still attend concerts by the three performers, whether together or in special solo concerts. The next upcoming performance is one by Tomoka Nagasu. She will hold two solo concerts, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, on October 21, 2025, at Meguro Blues Alley, Japan.

These five groups are just a small glimpse into the expansive world of female bands and ensembles in Japan. Whether you’re drawn to jazz, rock, classical, pop, traditional Japanese music, or, of course, the catchy tunes of anime, Japan’s all-female musical ensembles have a lot to offer. Their diverse musical styles, blending the old with the new and pushing musical limits in their own unique ways, inspire us to explore further.

Know more about Japan’s all-female bands or ensembles? Let us know your favorite in a comment down below!

Australian-born and Tokyo-based, Brittany Arthur is a powerhouse of innovation and empathy. Her connection to Japan began as a high school exchange student in Kagoshima. After gaining professional experience in Berlin, she returned in 2017 to launch her own company in Tokyo. Today, she’s the CEO of Design Thinking Japan, a trailblazing firm leading the way in human-centered AI solutions.

Alongside her husband, she’s raising their young son, blending Australian, Mexican and Japanese cultures into her daily family life. Brittany is also the voice behind The Business Karaoke Podcast—the only bilingual business podcast in Japanese and English—where she explores leadership and innovation.

Design Thinking Japan (DTJ)

Founded by Brittany, Design Thinking Japan is reshaping the way companies use AI by keeping people at the center of it all. The firm is known for delivering solutions that aren’t just high-tech, but deeply human, practical and ethically grounded. While guiding global teams through cultural complexities and helping organizations rethink innovation from the ground up, DTJ combines creativity with measurable results. Brittany’s leadership reflects the values many international women in Japan hold close: resilience, adaptability and a strong sense of purpose.

For those curious about the future of work, parenting abroad or what it takes to lead as a woman in Japan, Brittany’s journey is as inspiring as it is refreshing. Make sure to watch our full interview with her in the video above.

Brittany’s Japan Recommendations

• Take a detour from the standard path and enjoy a spot with fewer crowds
• Try eating somewhere where everything is in Japanese (unless you have an allergy)
• Get a personal experience done, like a haircut or hair wash

Visit Design Thinking Japan for more information about Brittany’s business.

If you would like to follow Brittany Arthur personally, you can find her over on LinkedIn and Instagram.

If you have anyone in mind you would like us to interview for Savvy Spotlight, leave us a comment below with your recommendations!

Amidst broader conversations surrounding Japanese literature, multicultural and “hafu” (child of one ethnic Japanese parent and one non-ethnic Japanese parent) authors are often overlooked for not being “Japanese enough.” For this reason, it’s essential to recognize the complexity of cultural and personal identities. Here are 10 multicultural women authors with diverse backgrounds who have achieved recognition in Japan and abroad.

1. Kimiko Hahn

© Photo by Bea Phi

Kimiko Hahn, a poet and recipient of the esteemed 2023 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, was born to a Japanese American mother and a German American father. Her poetry collections reflect the diverse influences that shaped her worldview, including the Asian American movement of the 1970s.

© Photo by Kimiko Hahn

Foreign Bodies and Brain Fever experiment with different themes and narrative forms, at times drawing inspiration from Japanese literature and genres like zuihitsu (diary-like writing with fragments of ideas and texts from books), letters, emails and more. Hahn continues to explore poetry, chapbooks and art books as a professor at the City University of New York.

2. Ruth Ozeki

© Photo by Latrippi

Ruth Ozeki is an author, filmmaker and Zen Buddhist priest born to a Japanese mother and American father. Raised by parents versed in linguistics, Ozeki employs a dynamic storytelling style, crafting narratives that embrace hybrid forms.

© Photo by Ruth Ozeki

Her novels, including the internationally acclaimed My Year of Meats, explore themes of science, religion, technology, politics and pop culture. Ozeki has also contributed to film and television in the United States and Japan. Her recent novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness, has won multiple awards, including the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2022.

3. Hannah Kirshner

© Photo by Hannah Kirshner

Hannah Kirshner is an artist and writer from Brooklyn, New York. Having ventured into the Japanese mountain town of Yamanaka, she narrates her experiences with delightful detail in the memoir Water, Wood and Wild Things.

© Photo by Hannah Kirshner

Breaking cultural norms, Kirshner immersed herself in traditionally male-dominated spaces and learned how to harvest rice, craft sake cups and hunt wild ducks the traditional way, known as sakaami. Through vivid storytelling and illustrations, Kirshner becomes a cultural bridge, inviting readers to explore cultivation, craft traditions and appreciate the beauty of daily life in the Japanese countryside.

4. Liu Qiao

© Photo by Youtube: 百姓故事

Liu Qiao, also known by the pen name Yang Yi, is a Chinese novelist who made history in 2008 as the first non-Japanese national to win the prestigious Akutagawa Prize, marking a significant milestone in Japanese literature.

© Photo by Liu Qiao

Her novel, Tokiga Nijimu Asa, “A Morning When Time Blurs,” delves into the tumultuous times surrounding China’s democratization movement and the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Living in Japan since 1987, Liu Qiao became a professor at Nihon University, where she continues to explore the intersection of culture, language and identity.

5. Kristen Simmons

© Photo by Kristen Simmons

Kristen Simmons, a writer known for her young adult dystopian novels and thrillers, faced challenges in embracing her Japanese identity during childhood. Through her stories, she crafts characters of mixed race and explores various facets of Japanese culture.

© Photo by Kristen Simmons

Her latest novel, Find Him Where You Left Him Dead, is inspired by Japanese folklore and explores an underworld full of yokai (ghosts, demons, and supernatural beings). Beyond her role as an author, Simmons draws inspiration from her profession as a mental health therapist and from her work with trauma survivors.

6. Li Kotomi

© Photo by Li Kotomi

Li Kotomi, an award-winning novelist from Taiwan, has immersed herself in the Japanese language since she was fifteen years old. She is the second non-native writer to be honored with the Akutagawa Prize for her novel Higanbana ga Saku Shima, “The Island Where Red Spider Lilies Bloom,”.

© Photo by Li Kotomi

Her prized novel experiments with linguistics by blending Japanese and Chinese to create a single creole language. Her thought-provoking stories illuminate ethnic, sexual and gender minorities and contemplate history, culture and the preservation of language.

7. Polly Barton

© Photo by Polly Barton

Polly Barton is a writer and literary translator based in Bristol who bridges the gap between Japanese literature and English readers. In the memoir, Fifty Sounds, she looks back on her transformative experience of moving to Sado Island in Japan. Barton’s memoir serves as a “personal dictionary” of the Japanese language and offers insight into the challenges faced by foreigners in Japan.

© Photo by Polly Barton

Her translations of various Japanese works, including titles like Spring Garden and Where the Wild Ladies Are, showcase her commitment to making Japanese literature accessible to a global audience.

8. Marie Mutsuki Mockett

© Photo by Marie Mutsuki Mockett

Marie Mutsuki Mockett, born to a Japanese mother and American father, delves into the complexities of cultural identity and the way it shapes storytelling. In her memoir, Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye, she recalls the tragic aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku, Japan, remembering her family’s 350-year-old Buddhist temple.

© Photo by Marie Mutsuki Mockett

Her work often presents oppositions between the urban and rural, the traditional and contemporary, and the East and West. Her words resonate with readers seeking a deeper understanding of identity, faith and the natural world.

9. Gail Tsukiyama

© Photo by Gail Tsukiyama

Gail Tsukiyama, an author who was born to a Japanese father and Chinese mother in San Francisco, California, crafts novels that offer a glimpse into the history of China and Japan. In The Samurai’s Garden, Tsukiyama paints a dreary yet beautiful narrative of a Chinese painter recovering in a Japanese village during World War II.

© Photo by Gail Tsukiyama

Through her stories, the challenges within both cultures are brought to life. Beyond literary contributions, Tsukiyama is the executive of WaterBridge Outreach. The organization aims to help developing countries gain access to books and water.

10. Jan Morrill

© Photo by Jan Morrill

In her debut novel, The Red Kimono, Jan Morrill taps into her Japanese American heritage to explore identity, resilience, and family history. Morrill was raised in a multicultural, multireligious environment with a Japanese American mother and Irish American father.

© Photo by Jan Morrill

Her book and other short stories draw influence from a wide range of experiences, including her mother’s incarceration at a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Exploring this somber past, Morrill brings attention to suffering caused by discrimination and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Continue the conversation! Share a comment introducing a half-Japanese or multicultural woman author who has roots in Japan.

Anthony Bourdain often waxed lyrical about his time in Tokyo. He went so far as to point out that it would be impossible to eat at every one of the city’s tens of thousands of restaurants. While that remains true, only a small fraction are run by foreigners, and even fewer are led by women. Discover five of those rare foreign-female owned eateries in Tokyo. These women are not only cooking but making their mark on Japan’s renowned foodie scene.

1. Katy Cole (U.S.): Locale

Locale has been described as “your best friend’s counter”, a “home away from home” and more—all glowing words that reflect the essence of this heartwarming Meguro bistro. Strangers dining at Locale for the first time quickly warm up over glasses of wine, which Chef Cole herself is no prude about sipping as she cooks. The menu is authentic farm-to-table food with weekend brunch and Katy’s version of a tasting menu, all packed with traceable ingredients. She describes the restaurant as a nightly dinner party. The intimacy and honesty that comes in each box of hand-tended produce is maintained in Katy’s cooking.

Chef Cole studied at Le Cordon Bleu and worked in San Francisco before moving to Japan. She was inspired after a brief trip to return for half a year, working on popups and forging bonds with farms and fellow restaurateurs. The story behind Locale’s ultimate success is mostly serendipitous—a spate of good luck and connections leading to what would become a family of regulars around a cozy kitchen counter. When one of Katy’s regular haunts closed, she took up the space to found Locale. Now, Locale also has some younger siblings in Wine Bar Juni and Kyoto’s Kosa.

• Address: 1-17-22 Meguro, Meguro ward, Tokyo
• Hours: Wed-Sat: 6 p.m.-10 p.m., Brunch: Sat and Sun: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
• What to order: A little of everything (tasting menu)

2. Stacey Ward (U.K.): Mornington Crescent Bakery

Savvy Tokyo actually interviewed Stacey Ward in 2016, when Mornington Crescent had been in business for just three years. At that time, the thoughts of the changes coming to Azabu and Covid-19 were still a long way off. Stacey first came to Tokyo with the JET program and worked in marketing before being inspired to open her own bakery. Today, Mornington Crescent continues in much the same shape as it did nearly a decade ago. Stacey still splits her time between offering her home-baked goods a couple of Saturdays a month and introducing the people of Tokyo to British delights with her cooking class. She has also published a book and started selling through her online storefront.

This spring, Mornington Crescent is pumping out hot cross buns just in time for Easter. Classic British pastries like these keep homesick Brits lining up on open bakery days and curious locals booking up classes faster than they can say “Mornington Crescent”. Seasonal selections are always in high demand, from mince pies to simnel cake, but classic comfort foods are available year-round. Battenberg, scones and towering Victoria sponge with smears of jam are hard for any gluten fan to resist.

• Address: Casa do Namiki 101, 2-14-3 Higashi Azabu, Minato ward, Tokyo
• Hours: Open bakery days: roughly twice a month. (Check website for details.)
• What to order: Battenberg cake, Victoria sponge, scones

3. Burcu Alkurt-Firat (Netherlands): Pide Kamakura

© Photo by Pide Kamakura

Pide (PEA-day) in Kamakura has exploded on social media in a few short weeks. The tiny shop was opened in early 2025 by Burcu Alkurt-Firat and her husband. Pide is the name of a favorite bread from Burcu’s father’s bakery. Their dream is for Pide to become a community center of sorts, where shared happiness and culture bloom through yeasty sourdough loaves and hand-whipped butter. From noon to gone on weekends, the cubby-sized bakery is wrapped in customers of all ages and ethnicities.

© Photo by Pide Kamakura

Burcu’s parents were Turkish immigrants who operated a bakery in Amsterdam. At 25, she moved to Norway, where she became enamored with sourdough bread. After coming to Japan, it took some time for Burcu to acclimate herself to a new country—different palates and ingredients were a hurdle at first. However, Pide is now quickly becoming the type of relationship-centric space its owners dreamed of creating. Despite only operating for a few months at the time of publishing, it’s clear the bakery has already become a special weekend pilgrimage spot.

• Address: 4-1-1 Omachi, Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture
• Hours: Sat and Sun 12 p.m. to sold out
• What to order: BMO (bread, butter and cheese), cardamom buns

4. Lauren Rose Kocher (U.S.): Buy Me Stand

Buy Me Stand, a beloved grilled-cheese shop in Shibuya, has been slinging sandwiches for over a decade. At the new location, diners can enjoy the same classics in speedy fashion with the permanent food-truck trailer. Of course, there’s the eponymous “Buy Me” sandwich, but also interesting creations like cinnamon toast with a side of milk for dipping and the “Son of the Cheese,” a four-cheese blend that is also the name of the founder’s fashion brand.

© Photo by Kazuharu Igarashi

The Sendagaya opening marked a bittersweet milestone. The shop was never meant to be Lauren Rose Kocher’s business, and until the untimely death of her husband, Kaito, it wasn’t. A successful founder herself and a skilled professional, Kocher took up the reins to keep her husband’s business—and legacy—thriving. Her own venture, Vegas PR, is in the entertainment business, working on PR and marketing for anime, musicians, and other creative media with a need for English communications.

• Address: Tokyo Apartment Namiki Bridge 202, 1-31-19 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Breakfast: 8 a.m.-11 a.m.; Lunch: 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
• What to order: Son of the Cheese, Hella Green

5. Holly Graham (U.K.): Tokyo Confidential Bar

© Photo by Tokyo Confidential Bar

Holly Graham hails from the UK, but her career is rooted in Asia. From a brief stint as an English teacher in Thailand and Korea, to a decade living in Hong Kong, where she was the Food and Drink Editor of Time Out, before bartending at The Old Man and returning to writing as the Managing Editor of DRiNK Magazine and author of Cocktails of Asia. In late 2023, she moved to Tokyo, and the explosive opening of her first bar, Tokyo Confidential, made Holly an important figure in Asia’s food and dining scene. Her creative cocktails and boundless energy find an easy home in Tokyo, especially when paired with the bar’s infamous hot dogs and globally-inspired drinks that utilise local ingredients at Tokyo Confidential.

© Photo by Tokyo Confidential Bar

The bar distills Holly’s passions for communication and imbibement into one raucous, nightly party. The salvaged tori gate wooden reverse horseshoe bar makes the space feel both open and intimate, a fitting scene for Tokyo Confidential’s motto of Pull Up, Fess Up. Holly can be seen behind the counter as often as jumping on top of it, hamming up her huge personality for the crowd. The friendly vibes at Tokyo Confidential are inviting, but the cocktails themselves are works of art only a seasoned professional could pour.

• Address: The V-City Azabujuban Place 9F, 1-6-1 Azabujuban, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• Hours: 6 p.m.-late. Until midnight on Sundays.
• What to order: Cheung Fun Old Fashioned, Mugi Boogie, hot dogs

We Want To Keep Growing This List!

Tokyo’s female-led eateries and watering holes feature the distinct character and history of their owners. For a taste of home—yours or theirs—make a visit to one of the locations listed above.

If you know of any other foreign-female owned eateries in Tokyo, let us know! Contact us or comment down below!

For many international families and individuals living in Japan, the idea of “home” can be complex. French artist Carine Lantignac understands this deeply. Having spent most of her life abroad, she has woven her experiences of travel, culture and personal identity into her art—leading to the creation of Mapponica, a unique studio in Tokyo that crafts bespoke washi paper maps.

Carine’s journey is anything but ordinary. She began with studies in mechanics, then worked as a cabin attendant for 14 years in London, soaring above cities and landscapes that would later inspire her art. When she moved to Japan a decade ago, she fell in love with artisanal Japanese washi paper. Drawn to its delicate textures and centuries-old traditions, this became the medium she chose to work with for Mapponica.

Mapponica

Her maps are more than just artwork; they tell stories. Her first piece was a map of her homeland, France, infused with Japanese motifs. It became a symbolic representation of her multicultural family’s identity. Through Mapponica, Carine bridges past and present, honoring her personal journey and Japan’s timeless artistry. Whether you’ve lived here for years or are just passing through, her work captures the essence of connection, migration and cultural appreciation.

Watch the full video interview above to hear more about Carine’s journey and the inspiration behind her beautiful washi maps.

Carine’s Japan Recommendations

• Sakura Horikiri (Washi paper shop)
• Kubota Itchiku Art Museum
• Cycling Along The Arakawa River

If you would like to follow Carine Lantignac personally, you can find her contact information on her official Mapponica website or Instagram for more information about her art studio.

If you have anyone in mind you would like us to interview for Savvy Spotlight, leave us a comment below with your recommendations!

There’s no shortage of inspirational women in Japanese history. Modern women writers publishing during the Meiji and Showa eras through to the postwar years made sense of transformations and upheavals in Japan through gendered lenses. Or, how about these bold and brave women warriors who left their marks on both the battlefield and in Japan’s artistic landscape? With the start of the new year, let’s take a look back at influential women born in modern Japan’s Year of the Snake. From women’s rights to the arts, we’ve selected just a handful of the many women who have helped to shape Japan.

1. Fusae Ichikawa (b. 1893)

© Photo by 『平和なくして平等なく平等なくして平和なし 写真集 市川房枝』ドメス出版、2013年5月15日。, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

© Photo by sekaitsushin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

© Photo by 日本経済新聞社, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in Aichi Prefecture, Fusae Ichikawa grew up in turn-of-the-century Japan. This was when women were legally prohibited from political office and life. After graduating from Aichi Joshi Shihan Gakko in 1913 with plans to become an elementary school teacher, Ichikawa relocated to Tokyo and quickly got to work in publishing and the burgeoning women’s movement. Take a look at her milestones during the interwar years:

• Co-founded the New Women’s Association (1919) 
• Created Women’s Suffrage League of Japan (1924)
• Organized the First National Meeting on Women’s Suffrage (1930)

Along with other prominent feminists such as Hiratsuka Raicho and Shigeri Yamataka, Ichikawa was at the forefront of women’s rights and was a key figure in organizing women’s suffrage.

After Japanese women earned the right to vote in 1945, Ichikawa continued to advocate for women’s issues. She served as a member of the House of Councillors, Japan’s upper house in government, for nearly 20 years. In the years before her death in 1981, Ichikawa pushed for the Japanese ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.

2. Fumiko Enchi (b. 1905)

© Photo by 主婦と生活社　撮影者不明, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in Tokyo’s Asakusa Ward at the beginning of the 20th century, Fumiko Enchi grew up in a literary world. Her father was a distinguished linguistics scholar who introduced a wide variety of Japanese and non-Japanese written works to the young Enchi. Meanwhile, her grandmother was a strong admirer of classical Japanese works, such as The Tale of Genji. By her teenage years, she was a passionate reader. 

While Enchi is celebrated as a novelist, she started out as a playwright and wrote several plays in the 1920s. Like her later work, these plays featured female protagonists and the social pressures and inequalities that characterized their worlds. By the time the Second World War broke out, Enchi had already written several novels, including The Words Like the Wind and Spring and Autumn, but they didn’t enjoy a wide audience. With her home destroyed in an American bombing of Tokyo and several health problems, Enchi stopped writing altogether until the 1950s.

Enchi achieved critical and commercial success in the postwar decades. Like her earlier creations, this body of literature centered on women’s lives and struggles against patriarchy and the pressures of gendered expectations. Wartime and domestic violence dominate Days of Hunger and The Waiting Years, which respectively delve into her experiences during the war and women living under male sexual power in the Meiji period. Both were award-winning works.

3. Ryoko Akamatsu (b. 1929)

© Photo by 文部科学省, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

© Photo by 財団法人婦選会館（1983年11月に「財団法人市川房枝記念会」に改称）, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Ryoko Akamatsu was born in Osaka in 1929 and went on to study politics and law at the prestigious University of Tokyo. Upon graduating in 1953, Akamatsu quickly entered the political world. While still a university student, Akamatsu passed the National Civil Service Recruitment Competency Exam which created a path to enter Japan’s civil service after university. Throughout her career, she was a member of countless committees and groups aimed at women’s issues, labor and education. Akamatsu was a trailblazer for women in politics and held a number of leadership positions including the director of several prefectural labor bureaus and headed women’s divisions of labor committees.

Two of Akamatsu’s proudest achievements came in the 1970s and 80s. As a member of Japan’s Mission to the United Nations, she voted in favor of passing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. This laid the groundwork for an international initiative to end gender discrimination. Building on this back in Japan, Akamatsu was instrumental in establishing the Equal Employment Opportunity Law (1985) which aims to eliminate gender-based discrimination in the workplace from hiring to paternity leave. Although critics argue the law doesn’t do enough to protect women, it was nevertheless a stepping stone in the fight for gender equality.

4. Yayoi Kusama (b. 1929)

© Photo by Garry Knight, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

© Photo by 首相官邸ホームページ, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

It’s hard not to think of dots of all colors and sizes when you think of Yayoi Kusama’s world-famous artwork. The motif has deep roots in the artist’s traumatic childhood growing up in Matsumoto, Nagano and has been a fixture of her work for nine decades and counting.

Kasama developed an interest in art around the age of 10, a passion that her mother discouraged. Her father was serially unfaithful, a history that Kasama often witnessed firsthand as her mother’s neighborhood spy. To escape the violence of her home life, which included physical abuse, Kasama began to experience hallucinations peppered with colorful flowers and orbs of light reminiscent of the dots that would characterize her creations.

Although Kasama went to art school in Kyoto after the war, she soon became dissatisfied with the orthodoxy of her teachers. Developing her techniques outside of the classroom, she held her first solo exhibition in Matsumoto at 22. That show featured more than 100 pieces, including sketches and paintings, and launched a professional career spanning continents and causes. From art-based protests of the Vietnam War in 1960s New York and novels and films to polka-dot emblazoned sculptures and her mesmerizing Infinity Rooms, Kasama has long been pushing the boundaries of art, performance and self-presentation.

5. Akina Nakamori (b. 1965)

© Photo by Tsuyoshi Inagaki, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

© Photo by Akina Nakamori Official

Born in Tokyo’s Ota Ward, Akina Nakamori became one of the best-selling and most popular Japanese idols of all time. At a young age, Nakamori was surrounded by music, particularly the hits of Misora Hibari, a hugely successful singer and performer in postwar Japan. Nakamori’s breakout into the public eye came on the popular talent TV show, Star Tanjo! After two failed attempts to secure the top spot, Nakamori would eventually win the crown on her third try in 1981.

Her victory not only came with a record contract but also a national following. The 1980s was her biggest decade with commercial and critical success. Nakamori’s third single, “Second Love,” reached #1 on the Oricon charts and has sold more than a million copies. Throughout the decade, the icon scored several more chart-topping singles, such as “½ no Shinwa” and “Meu amor é…,” as well as her best-selling album, Variation.

Nakamori’s discography stands in contrast to Seiko Matsuda, another 80s idol powerhouse.

If Matsuda’s image captures the clean and poppy side of classic J-pop, Nakamori is the darker side. Her second single, “Shoujo A” featured sexually suggestive lyrics that created some controversy when it hit #5 on the charts. “Nanpasen” hinted at the turbulent relationship with her boyfriend and fellow idol, Kondo Masahiko, a union that may have led to her attempted suicide in 1989.

While “Dear Friend,” released after she disappeared from the public eye after her suicide attempt, is often cited as a cheerful song about courage and uplifting spirits, the artist herself has said it may be her only happy song. Nakamori has had many rebirths in her career, retreating and exploding back on the stage every few years, and has consistently been highlighted as one of the top recording artists of all time in sales, influence and artistry.

That’s our list of powerful Japanese women born in the year of the snake!

While we spotlight five women, we could have done much more. Hopefully, you can discover a new novel or song or feel inspired by the hard work these women have accomplished. 

What did you think of our powerful Japanese women born in the Year of the Snake? Do you have others we missed? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below!