Dreams of the Founders

On the evening of January 12, 1887, twenty-seven men gathered together at the Prime Minister's residence in Tokyo, and decided to launch an organization by the name of `Joshi-Kyoiku Shoreikai' (Society for Women's Education and Leadership). Their purpose was to promote women's education so that `Japanese women would be able to receive the benefits of civilization similar to those Western women enjoyed.' At the conclusion of the gathering, the men appointed themselves as founding members of the organization, and selected Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi as the chairperson.

The man later chosen as the first president of Shoreikai was Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa, a member of the royal family, who was known for his colorful career. Under the Tokugawa regime during Edo period, the prince was nominated as the chief abbot of Rin-noji (Kan-eiji) temple of Ueno, one of the highest ranks in Buddhist priesthood. When the shogunate was dismantled by the Meiji Restoration, he was re-instated in secular life and served in the army as the commander of the elite Imperial Guards division. He died in 1895 in Taiwan, and the statue commemorating him stands today at the gate of the Modern Art Museum near the Imperial Palace .

In November of the same year, Shoreikai managed to secure a lease for some choice real estate located at the heart of Tokyo. The property had formerly been owned by a daimyo (feudal lord), and was taken over by the imperial family after the Meiji Restoration. The imperial family granted the lease to Shoreikai in response to a letter of request addressed by Prime Minister Ito to Hisamoto Hijikata, the Minister of the Imperial Household. By an interesting coincidence, this property is the setting of a famous Kabuki play where a villainous monk who pretends to be an envoy of the chief abbot of Rin-noji blackmailed the daimyo owner on account of an illicit love affair.

In 1888, Shoreikai invited 6 women teachers from Great Britain and opened Tokyo Jogakkan Schools for Women. It appears that the original intent of the founders was not confined to providing formal education. Their vision included a social club or a center for social education where Japanese women would have the opportunity to become accustomed to Western life style. This is perhaps the reason why the original article of incorporation of Tokyo Jogakkan Schools stipulates that the school facilities could be used as meeting place for women and dictates that the school should be equipped with a garden suitable for every kind of outdoor activities.

In order to rally a public support and thereby help finance these activities, Shoreikai launched a fund-raising campaign. Altogether 179 people including the founding members agreed to become members pledging to pay the membership dues, which were set at \250 per unit. In return, the members were given the right to use Shoreikai facilities, and participate in its functions; they were also extended the privilege of enrolling their daughters and other female relatives in Jogakkan Schools.

250 yen was a large sum in those days, perhaps the equivalent of a couple of millions of yen in current value. Although some members such as Iwasaki Hisaya, head of the Mitsubishi family who subscribed 20 units and Shibusawa Eiichi and Hara Rokuro who pledged 12 units each, there were some who committed only a half of a unit. The median amount of subscription among 179 members turned out to be about one and a half units.

Most of the members were prominent citizens from various backgrounds. They were cabinet ministers; high ranking government officials; generals and admirals; members of Tokugawa clan, which ruled the country before the Meiji Restoration; a number of Daimyo families; foreign residents; and newly rich entrepreneurs. However, only a few were able to pay the dues in lump sum, and many chose to pay in various types of installments. There is a large ledger kept in the archive of Tokyo Jogakkan Schools, which recorded the payments of membership dues. It is somewhat moving to see the high and mighty of the time, including royal princes and legendary war heroes, depositing 10 to 20 yen faithfully every month.

Another interesting aspect of the ledger is the way it reflects the egalitarian nature of the society at that time. The members are listed at random, regardless of their social or political background. This is a sign that early Meiji society was able to rally people of varying backgrounds and treat them equally as they united to support a common cause. In fact the list includes many who had fought each other in deadly power struggles such as the Boshin-war, which sealed the fate of Tokugawa regime less than 20 years previously, or the Seinan civil war in 1877 only 10 years before.

It is quite significant that these men were now not only listed as members of an organization to promote women's internationalization and social participation, but were also willing to help finance the program by way of paying the dues from their own pockets. Perhaps this is an indication that Meiji era, or at least the first half of the era was magnanimous in spirit, quite different from what developed afterwards. Had this broad heartedness persisted in the country, and had the wishes and dreams of the founders of Shoreikai been realized, and had the women been able to play a positive role in the nation's decision making process, Japan's story in the past century might have been quite different.

Unfortunately, what followed in Japan was recurrent turmoil such as war and defeat, growth and recession. The male-dominated social structure remained unchanged, continuously relegating women to the position of supporting their men. For the past 10 years or so, however, the age-old social system has at last lost its relevance and effectiveness, with the nation facing a serious political and financial impasse. With a belief that the nation's regeneration can only be achieved by way of active participation of women in its affairs, we propose to re-activate `Joshi Kyoiku Shoreikai' and try to fulfill the dream of the founders for the sake of Japan' future.