Recent Collaborative Endeavors by Historians of Women and Gender in Japan

The collaboration between historians of Japanese women and those who focused on women’s and gender history in other areas of the world has been crucial for changing the conservative nature of historical studies in Japanese academia. The main focus of this article is on two benefits that the collaborative relationships of historians of women and gender as well as scholars in other disciplines have made possible: the establishment of the Gender History Association of Japan in 2004, and the project to effect change in secondary history education and textbooks. In spite of the bleak picture in Japan’s gender gap, as the Global Gender Gap Index of Japan demonstrates, it is important for one to understand the efforts made by historians of women and gender in Japan in making a difference in the field of history, and to promote a gender-equal society through collaborative activities nationally and internationally.