Popular drama heroine embraced Christianity

In the Meiji Era, when women were still treated as if they were men’s belongings, one woman worked hard to establish a bank and a life-insurance company, develop coal mines, and empower women. She was Asako Hirooka, the heroine of the drama series on NHK earlier this year, Asa ga Kita (Morning has dawned).

Born in 1849 to the well-off Koishikawa Mitsui family in Kyoto (which later went on to establish the famous Mitsui zaibatsu or conglomerate). Despite being treated like a princess, Hirooka was a tomboy. But she also loved studying and reading, so much so that her parents banned her from reading.

In her autobiography, One Week One Life, she relates how disappointed she felt when informed that women did not need education. However, Hirooka refused to accept this. She was determined to find some way to study. She was convinced that, so long as both genders were given equal opportunity to study, there would not be any difference in learning ability.

When she was 17, Hirooka married Shingorō Kashimaya, the second son of a wealthy merchant in Osaka. Fortunately for Hirooka, her husband Kashimaya was easygoing—as a result Hirooka was free to do all that she did.

Stepping into coal mines

When Hirooka married into the Kashimaya family, the family seemed rather laissez-faire, leaving all the business matters to the hired hands. Hirooka was determined to accept responsibility for the destiny of the entire family. She worked long into the evenings to equip herself, mastering accounting, finance, and commerce on her own.

Just as Hirooka had feared, Kashimaya’s business suffered during the turbulent times of the Meiji Restoration. Because of her hard work, Kashimaya managed to set up the Kashima Bank and Daidō Life Insurance Company, which grew to become the core of Kashimaya’s business.

Hirooka also became active in the coal-mining industry. She traveled to the Uruno Coal Mine in Fukuoka and supervised mining operations. Her efforts paid off—the Uruno coal mine saw a large increase in its output after 1897 and became highly profitable.

Establishing Japan Women’s University

While excelling in business, Hirooka also felt pity for her fellow Japanese women who were living in bondage. Hirooka was born out of wedlock in the Mitsui family and questioned her own circumstances as a woman, where her spouse decided things for her regardless of her desires. She became convinced that women also have the right to live as human beings. At this time, she met Jinzō Naruse, who believed in the need for education for women and wanted to establish a women’s university.

Hirooka jumped at the opportunity to become one of the university’s founders. She donated a huge sum of money and worked with Naruse. She traveled around Japan seeking support from powerful businessmen and politicians. In 1901, Japan Women’s University was established as the first higher-education institution for women in Japan.

Hide Inoue, the fourth principal of the university and the woman who accompanied Hirooka to the Uruno coal mine, said, “In her, I saw a woman who was not afraid of anything. It was enjoyable seeing her negotiating with strong men, even ordering them about and scolding them. I totally admired her. At a time when no one was arguing for gender equality, I saw a woman who was as strong as a man . . . I was deeply impacted by her.” Hirooka hardly ever said, “You cannot do this,” or “Stop doing that.” Instead, she was always encouraging, saying things like, “Let’s do it,” and “Go for it.”

In 1904, Hirooka retired from the family business. She then worked actively to promote women’s status in society by busying herself with Japan Women’s University, the Patriotic Women’s Committee, and the Japan YWCA Central Committee, as well as setting up the Osaka YWCA.

Awakened to faith while fighting cancer

When she was 60, Hirooka had surgery to remove breast cancer. Through this experience, she became aware of God’s existence. Naruse, who was a Christian, introduced her to the pastor of Osaka Christian Church, Tsuneteru Miyakawa. Hirooka studied the Bible under Pastor Miyakawa and was baptized that Christmas.

Until she was called to heaven at 71, she devoted herself to writing and never stopped spurring on her readers. In this way, she contributed to nurturing the next generation of women.

From Christian Shimbun, January 3 & 10, 2016
Author: Yuko Nakao, Translator: Mie Takatsuji