First Female University Students Day

What Is First Female University Students Day?

Every August 16th is "First Female University Students Day" (女子大生の日, Joshi Daisei no Hi) in Japan. On August 16, 1913, Tōhoku Imperial University (now Tōhoku University) in Sendai announced the acceptance of three female students — the first time any Japanese national university had admitted women. The three pioneers — Chika Kuroda (黒田チカ), Ume Tanaka (田中薫), and Raku Makita (牧田らく) — passed the entrance examination and were admitted to the science department, breaking a barrier that had excluded women from Japan's national university system.

The Three Pioneers of 1913

Tōhoku University's decision to admit women was remarkable in the context of 1913 Japan, where women were almost entirely excluded from higher education in the Western academic sense. The three women who gained admission — all from educated backgrounds — went on to distinguished careers. Chika Kuroda became Japan's first female doctorate recipient in chemistry (1929) and a pioneering natural products chemist; she is remembered as one of Japan's earliest female scientists of international standing.

Women's Education in Japan: Historical Context

Japan had a tradition of women's education in private institutions — Tokyo Women's College (later Tokyo Woman's Christian University) and other schools had provided higher education to women since the Meiji era. But the national universities — the most prestigious and resource-rich — remained closed to women until Tōhoku's 1913 breakthrough. It was not until 1947, in the wake of the postwar democratic reforms, that all Japanese national universities were required to admit women.

Women in Japanese Universities Today

Today, women constitute approximately 46% of undergraduate students at Japanese universities — near parity. However, significant gender gaps persist at the graduate level and in fields like engineering, medicine, and science, where women remain underrepresented. Japan's proportion of women in faculty positions and research roles also lags behind peer nations, reflecting ongoing structural and cultural barriers to women's full participation in academic life.

Fun Facts

• Tōhoku University's legacy: Tōhoku University continues to emphasize gender equality in its institutional identity, maintaining the pioneering spirit of its 1913 decision through active programs to recruit and support female students and faculty in STEM fields.
• Chika Kuroda: A Japanese postage stamp featuring Chika Kuroda was issued in 2019 as part of a series honoring Japanese women who made history in science and culture.