Koizumi Ikuko: The making of a Christian feminist in imperial Japan, 1892–1922

This article explores the development of Koizumi Ikuko (1892– 1964)1 as a Christian feminist during Japan’s Meiji and Taishō eras (1868–1926), a time marked by rapid Westernisation that facilitated her encounter with Christianity and her feminist awakening. As a prominent educator and one of the few Japanese women to study abroad in the U.S. during the 1920s, Koizumi returned to Japan to teach at Aoyama Gakuin (1931– 1936), where her influential writings on co-education and women’s issues established her as a leading expert. However, her Christian identity, a key element in shaping her feminist ideology and practices, has often been overlooked. This study outlines Koizumi’s transformative journey, focusing on her educational pursuits, conversion experiences, and her evolving views on gender roles. It highlights how Christianity provided Koizumi with a framework to foster her vision of a ‘new womanhood’ that combined feminist aspirations with Christian moral principles. By examining her engagement with women’s movements, such as the Bluestocking Society, and her distinct divergence from secular feminists by emphasising Christian sexual morality, this article offers new insights into the diverse interpretations of feminism in early twentieth-century Japan.