The Impact of Komako Kimura on Women's Rights and Suffrage in Japan

As the world commends Japan for their first female Prime Minister, let's take a closer look at the remarkable women who have significantly influenced Japanese society long before the 64-year-old Sanae Takaichi came into the realm of politics. These trailblazers have paved the way for future generations, demonstrating resilience, intelligence, and an unwavering commitment to social progress.

Throughout Japan's history, women have played vital roles, often behind the scenes, shaping the cultural, social, and political landscapes of the nation. From the Heian period, where noblewomen like Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon made their mark through literature, to the Meiji era, where women began to advocate for education and rights, their contributions have been profound yet frequently overlooked.

A notable figure during this early period was the Japanese actress, magazine editor, and suffragist Komako Kimura (木村 駒子). Born in Tokyo on July 29, 1887, during a period when women's rights were severely restricted, Komako continued her battle, even if it meant taking her cause overseas.

During her early years, she attended a school founded by Junko Takezaki, where girls were encouraged not only to learn and prepare to be good, traditional Japanese wives and mothers but also to develop their own personalities. She found inspiration in male thinkers such as Goethe, Byron, Maeterlinck, Wilde, and Emerson, whom she studied in school. Additionally, her thinking was greatly shaped by the ideas of Ellen Key, a Swedish feminist.

Komako's mother was deeply engaged in the arts, making it almost certain that Komako would be drawn to that sphere. At the age of 4, she began performing, training in traditional arts such as the shamisen, dance, and drama. This foundation became pivotal to her later success and her involvement in feminism. Her father, the chief clerk for a firefighting pump dealer, lost all his money to a ruthless moneylender, compelling him to move to Taiwan for work and leave the family when she was eight. Komako relied on her dance and theater training to support her family by joining a traveling theater in Kumamoto.

At 14, as she was en route to marry a man she had never met, Komako defied her family's matchmaking by fleeing from her carriage and heading to the city of Nagoya. Upon arrival, she sold her wedding attire and began working as an apprentice dancer. In early 20th century Japan, it was a major scandal for a young Japanese woman to reject marriage in such a way. This marked just the start of Komako's many challenges to Japanese cultural and societal norms.

She met a young doctor named Hideo Kimura, who was also from Kumamoto and had studied at Doshisha University, which Yamamoto Yae helped establish. In 1908, they had a child out of wedlock and relocated to Tokyo. As a result, Komako experienced ostracism, which made it difficult for her to keep a job. Japan in the early 1900s was not a favorable time for progressive-thinking women. While the country advanced in industry and technology, societal attitudes towards women leaned towards strict Confucianism, denying them many basic rights, including participation in political affairs. The government frequently suppressed anything they disapproved of, including feminist movements.

In 1913, along with fellow feminists Fumiko Nishikawa and Mitsuko Miyazaki, Komako founded the "New Real Women’s Society." They believed that women should resist the patriarchy rather than passively endure a monotonous existence under male domination. The society aimed to inspire women throughout Japan to rise up and advocate for changes that would benefit both themselves and their country. Komako also contributed to editing and publishing a magazine titled "New Real Women." In the inaugural issue, Komako expressed her vision of not merely amending laws to grant men and women equal rights on paper. Her aim was to empower women to become strong-minded and thoughtful feminists, ensuring they receive an education equal to that of men, enabling them to make their own decisions without relying on the men in their lives.

When not working to establish feminism, Komako kept herself occupied with other activities. She managed two theaters in Tokyo, the Kimura Komako Theatre and the Tokiwaza Theatre. She cherished the stage as it was one of the few avenues for women to thrive in a male-dominated society. Her performances, especially those from Shakespeare's plays, were disapproved of by the Japanese government. In response to this criticism, Komako opened her theaters to the public free of charge, an action that led to her arrest. Her arrest did not deter her, and upon release, she resumed her efforts to promote the feminist cause.

The feminist societies and their publications frequently faced the risk of being suppressed by the government. Some of Komako's colleagues, who had initially started the society and magazine with her, withdrew due to pressure from their husbands and employers. Nevertheless, Komako remained steadfast in her commitment to the publication. Eventually, when financial support dwindled to almost nothing and she began to doubt her mission, Komako chose to expand her perspective by traveling to the US, hoping that American feminism might support her cause.

In 1917, Komako journeyed to New York with her supportive husband and son to learn English and explore new ways to advance feminism in Japan. During her stay, she met with the first female member of Congress, Jeannette Rankin, and President Woodrow Wilson. One of the most well-known photographs of her was taken during this period when she marched alongside other suffragists in New York.

Komako enthusiastically participated in several interviews with different American newspapers, likely anticipating that the publicity would draw attention to her groundbreaking work. A journalist observed that she spoke "in the softest of voices, and with the most delightful accent imaginable; yet the gentleness of her expression could not hide the firmness of her beliefs."

After spending eight years in America, Komako and her family went back to Japan in 1925, and she continued her efforts to enhance the lives of others. Komako Kimura's contributions through her writing, speeches, and performances played a crucial role in the Japanese suffrage movement, which led to the 1945 amendment of election law granting Japanese women the right to vote.

As we discuss Sanae Takaichi's historic achievement as the first female Prime Minister, it is essential to acknowledge the legacy of those who came before her. Their struggles and triumphs have laid the foundation for this momentous occasion, reminding us that the fight for equality and representation continues, and that the voices of women in Japan will only grow stronger in the years to come.