Call for Entries Opens for the 20th "Raicho Hiratsuka Award"

Japan Women's University (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; President: Satoko Shinohara) announced that the call for entries for the 20th "Raicho Hiratsuka Award" will begin on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.

Provided by Otsuki Shoten

This award was established in 2005 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the university graduation of Raicho Hiratsuka (3rd-year student at Japan Women's University) , a thinker and writer who studied at Japan Women's University, the predecessor of the current institution.

"In the beginning, woman was the sun. She was a true human being." This opening line from Hiratsuka's essay in "Seito," Japan's first literary magazine by and for women, marked the origin of the women's liberation movement. Raicho Hiratsuka continued to influence society as an opinion leader, contributing to modern Japan through her advocacy for women's political rights and peace movements.

This award recognizes research and activities related to the realization of a gender-equal society and world peace through women's liberation, aiming to pass on Raicho Hiratsuka's legacy to younger generations.

["Raicho Hiratsuka Award" Call for Entries Overview]

1. Eligibility

Individuals or organizations conducting research or activities in one of the following areas are eligible. Self-nominations and nominations by others are accepted.

1 Research on Raicho Hiratsuka

2 Realization of a gender-equal society

3 Research and activities related to world peace through women's liberation

2. Award Name and Prize Money

(1) Raicho Hiratsuka Award (Commemorative) - 1 recipient Recognition for achievements in research or activities conducted to date.

Prize money (200,000 yen per individual or organization)

(2) Raicho Hiratsuka Award (Encouragement) - 2 recipients Encouragement for plans with potential for future development in research or activities.

Research/activity grant (100,000 yen per individual or organization)

3. Application Qualifications

Individuals and organizations are welcome (self-nominations and nominations by others are accepted). The following requirements must be met for each award:

- Commemorative Award: No specific restrictions.

- Encouragement Award: Individuals or organizations who are students, graduate students, or equivalent and wish to receive the encouragement award.

Expectation of research/activity results within the next year, including current research/activities (a research proposal must be submitted).

4. Application Period

Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Monday, August 31, 2026

5. Announcement and Award Ceremony

- Announcement: Friday, November 13, 2026

- Award Ceremony: Saturday, December 19, 2026

Selection Committee Members (in Japanese alphabetical order)

Kiyoko Ikegami [Chairperson, Plan International Japan, Vice President, Asia Population and Development Association]

Akiko Sabuha [Professor, Department of History and Cultural Studies, Faculty of Letters, Japan Women's University]

Kazuko Tanaka [Chairperson, Sakura-fubuki Society for the Promotion of Education and Culture of Japan Women's University]

Akiko Nagai [Director, Research Institute for Women and Careers, Japan Women's University]

Yoko Hayashi [Lawyer, Chairperson, Fujie Ichikawa Memorial Center for Women and Politics]

For more details, please visit the "Raicho Hiratsuka Award" website.

View Details

About Raicho Hiratsuka

Raicho Hiratsuka graduated from Japan Women's University in 1906 (Meiji 39). "Seito," published after her graduation, was Japan's first literary magazine by women for women and became the origin of the women's liberation movement. The opening line, "In the beginning, woman was the sun," is known as a declaration of the women's liberation movement. She was a thinker who loved peace and dedicated her life to women's liberation. She passed away 50 years ago in 2021.

Past Recipients

Please refer to the following URL on the "Raicho Hiratsuka Award" website.

Introduction to Recipients and Awarded Organizations: https://www5.jwu.ac.jp/st/grp/raiteu/prize.html

Japan Women's University was founded as Japan's first organized institution for higher education for women, celebrating its 120th anniversary in 2021. It is the only private women's university with a Faculty of Science and a comprehensive educational environment that integrates liberal arts and sciences. Under the tagline "I Move, the World Opens," we foster individuals who can learn independently, act independently, and create new value. In the 2024 academic year, a Faculty of Architecture and Design was established, a Faculty of Food Science was established last year, and the names of two departments in the Faculty of Letters were changed this year. The establishment of a Faculty of Economics in the 2027 academic year, the establishment of a Faculty of Fashion Design (tentative name) and a Faculty of Human Sciences (tentative name) in the 2028 academic year (under planning), and the establishment of a Faculty of Science and Engineering (tentative name) by developing the Faculty of Science in the 2029 academic year (under planning) are part of our ongoing university reforms. For more details, please visit https://www.jwu.ac.jp.

Press release materials can be viewed via the link below.

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