Ichikawa, Fusae (1893–1981)

Japanese suffragist, feminist, and politician. Name variations: Ichikawa Fusaye. Pronunciation: ITCH-EE-ka-wa FOO-sa-ae. Born Ichikawa Fusae, May 15, 1893, in Asahi Village, Aichi Prefecture, Japan; died in Tokyo, Japan, 1981; dau. of Ichikawa Fujikurō (farmer) and Ichikawa Tatsu; briefly attended Joshi Gakuin (Girls' Academy) in Tokyo, and graduated from Aichi Prefectural Women's Normal School in 1913; never married; no children.

One of the most outstanding women in 20th-century Japan, taught elementary school (1913–16); was 1st woman newspaper reporter in Nagoya (1917–19); moved to Tokyo to become secretary of the women's section of the Yũaikai (Friendly Society), Japan's 1st labor organization (1919); founded Shin Fujin Kyōkai (New Woman's Association, 1919–21); networked with women's rights leaders in US (1921–23); returned to Tokyo, where she worked for International Labor Organizations (1924–27); founded Fusen Kakutoku Dõmei (Women's Suffrage League, 1924–40); appointed to advisory board of the government's organization, Dai Nihon Fujinkai (Greater Japan Women's Association, 1942–44); organized Sengo Taisaku Fujin Iinkai (Women's Committee on Postwar Countermeasures) to work for women's suffrage (1945); was purged by American occupation (1947–50); served in House of Councillors (upper house of national legislature, 1953–71 and 1974–81).

See also (in Japanese) Ichikawa Fusawa no jiden—senzen hen (The Autobiography of Ichikawa Fusae—The Prewar Period, 1974); and Women in World History.