All the women on this list are well known among the Japanese. Ready to test your knowledge of Japan's remarkable women? Then let's go through history, starting from 973 to the present day.
Murasaki Shikibu / Murasaki Shikibu (973 - 1025)
Writer
Shikibu is the author of The Tale of Genji, written between 1000 and 1012, during the Heian period. This work is considered the world's first novel.
At that time, women were deprived of the opportunity to study classical Chinese, but Shikubu's father gave her the opportunity to study with her brother. A precocious child, she immersed herself in studying the Chinese language, but hid her abilities so as not to incur the scorn of adults.
Living at the court of the imperial family, where she served as a maid of honor to Empress Akiko, Shikibu kept a diary in which she wrote about the activities of the fictional Prince Genji, supplementing it with various trifles from real court life. Such “poetic tales” represent a genre of poetic biography, in which reality is mixed with fiction, resulting in works of “Japanese prose.” Such writing found favor among women, especially court ladies, wives and daughters of courtiers, while men still preferred to write in classical Chinese.
An English translation of The Tale of Genji, consisting of six volumes, appeared in 1933.
Nozomi Sasaki
The future fashion model was born in 1988 in the city of Akita. It has its own dialect, so she still speaks with an accent that some Tokyo journalists who interview her cannot understand.
The girl’s career began at the age of 14, and today she is one of the most sought-after models in the country. Nozomi has an impeccable figure and a pretty face, which allowed her to get into our rating today, as well as on the pages of many Japanese magazines.
Misako Shirasu / Misako Shirasu (1910 - 1998)
Publicist and expert on aesthetics and design
Shirasu began studying Noh theater at the age of four, and at age 14 she became the first woman to perform on the Noh stage.
Misako Shirasu grew up in a good family. She attended preparatory school in the United States. Upon returning to Japan, she married, and in 1942 she and her husband moved to a farm away from likely bombing targets. Apparently, this moment became a key moment in her life. It was during this time that Shirasu learned to appreciate a simple, austere lifestyle. She became a proponent of simple aesthetics and design surrounded by nature.
Shirasu believed in mixing ideas to arrive at practical ways of living. Regarding design, she emphasized that imperfections are the defining beauty of an object, a valuable natural flaw, an unforeseen treasure, or a “natural imperfection.” Instead of creating art, she suggested that people put their soul into creating something with great effort and skill. Shirasu also said that folk art should be a little awkward.
She devoted herself to studying the relationship between art and nature. Shirasu used flower arrangement as an example: once flowers are placed in a vase, for the first time we can understand the essence of the flower in a controlled and observable format where we can appreciate it on a different level and give it new life. She saw that the beauty of nature included food and art. These values still live on in Japanese art and design.
The house where she lived with her husband is called Buaiso, now a museum open to the public.
Mao Inoue
The actress is known for several popular Japanese dramas, TV series and films. She first appeared on screen at a very tender age - 5 years old, and since then she has achieved significant success. She received an award from the Drama Academy as the best actress in this genre.
Since childhood, Mao has been studying art, in particular music. And also, she never forgot about the importance of education, even when she acted in films at school age.
Masako Katsura / Masako Katsura (1913 - 1995)
Professional billiard player
"Katsy" was Japan's only professional female billiards player in the 1950s. She also became the first woman to play in a world billiards tournament.
Masako learned the game at age 13, thanks to her older sister's husband, who owned a pool hall. In 1958, she participated in 30 exhibitions, and the following year she appeared twice on American television (once on CBS, once on ABC). Masako married a US Army sergeant and moved from Japan to the United States.
Katsy wrote two books in Japanese about billiards: Introducing Billiards (1952) and Improving Your Billiards Game (1956).
She eventually returned to Japan and lived with her sister. 5 years after returning to her homeland, she died, this happened in 1995.
Japanese Porn Film Law4
Interestingly, traditions are supported in Japan even by legislators, and in the country it is prohibited to openly display genitals, which especially applies to porn films. Russians are used to the fact that when watching porn with the inhabitants of the land of the rising sun, you can’t see anything - because everything is either hidden behind a special effect - small squares, or the actors grow their hair so long that everything is hidden behind it.
Violation of this prohibition is severely punished, so it is extremely difficult to find an erotic film from Japan where the process will be shown without censorship.
However, women, who are popularly called prostitutes, still shave off unwanted hair, because men, even in Japan, are visual people and love to look at women's charms. But there are not many such women in the country, and most of them preserve their hair by caring for the intimate area and maintaining hygiene.
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Hanae Mori (1926)
Hanae Mori is the most famous female designer from Japan. She is also considered an icon of free women. Mori used fashion design to promote the interaction of aesthetic values between East and West.
As a young girl, Mori studied at a local sewing school. She later opened her own boutique in Ginza and created a clothing collection. She entered the world of high fashion in Paris, influenced by Coco Chanel. In 1976, she opened a salon in Paris and was appointed a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, becoming the only designer from Japan to be included in Haute Couture.
Maury's designs have appeared on the cover of Vogue magazine. Her designs include uniforms for Japan Airlines flight attendants, uniforms for Japanese athletes at the Barcelona Summer Olympics, and a kimono and wedding dress for Japanese Princess Masako. Mori also has a perfume collection and a Hanae Mori Barbie doll.
Mori supports young designers through his Hanae Mori Foundation.
Sadako Ogata (1927)
Diplomat
Few women are as impressive as Sadako Ogata, who served at the Japan International Cooperation Agency until she was 85. She was Chairman of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees from 1991-2001, on the Executive Board of UNICEF from 1978-1979, and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, where she served from October 2003 to April 2012.
Sadako Ogata, in addition to many international awards, has also received the Indira Gandhi Award and the J. William Fulbright Award for International Understanding. In 2001, she accompanied then Prime Minister Mori to Africa, marking the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to the African continent.
Sadako Ogata is beloved by her people for her compassion for the disadvantaged.
Do geishas shave their pubes?2
Traditionally, Japanese geishas are considered the most beautiful and interesting women in the land of the rising sun, and they also follow a huge number of different traditions. Many skincare rituals follow the rules that were established a long time ago, and the same applies to creating an intimate hairstyle and taking care of yourself in the pubic area.
It is important to emphasize that geisha are not prostitutes, and they do not shave their pubic hair to please a man. On the contrary, geisha always strive to emphasize natural beauty.
Depending on the home in which the geisha grew up and trained, she may apply an intimate pattern to the pubic region, or shave off small strips, leaving a neat, well-groomed hairy area.
Yayoi Kusama (1929)
Artist
Yayoi Kusama was a leader of the avant-garde movement shortly after she moved to the United States (then in her 20s) and is said to have influenced artists such as Andy Warhol. She is also a direct participant in the minimalist and feminist art movements.
Kusama is known for her red polka dot designs. This whimsical theme has become her signature. Yayoi Kusama is best known for her installation art—she turns entire rooms into living tree trunks painted with red polka dots.
In 2008, one of her works was sold at Christie's New York for $5.1 million, a record for a living female artist at the time.
Once you see her art, you won't be able to forget it. Kusama opens up about his struggles with mental illness. She is staying at Seiwa Hospital in Tokyo, from where she travels to her studio.
Fans
Traditionally, in Japan, fans are also used for cooling in hot weather. Ordinary fans with a straight “working” surface are called uchiwa. Japanese women can also use classic folding sensu fans. Such things in Japan are used mainly by representatives of the older generation.
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The younger generation increasingly prefers to buy more innovative “fans” - special small fans.
Fans can be worn in the hand or around the neck. In Japan, such fans can also be sewn into baby strollers and workers' workwear.
Hibari Misora / Hibari Misora (1937 – 1989)
Singer, actress and cult personality
As an actress, Misora appeared in Takekurabe (1955), Izu no odoriko (1954) and Hibari no mori no ishimatsu (1960). However, she is best remembered as the singer of "Enki". Her first performance was at the age of eight, and the following year she appeared on NHK. She toured Japan for two years.
Hibari Misora has recorded over 1,000 songs, including "Kawa no nagare no you ni". The song was voted by more than 10 million people in an NHK poll as the greatest Japanese song of all time.
Misora is one of the most commercially successful musicians. She also became the first Japanese woman to receive the Order of Honor from the Prime Minister. Misora was awarded the Japanese government's Medal of Honor for her contributions to music and social welfare, inspiring people and giving them hope after World War II.
Hibari Misora died at the age of 52 from illness. She was reported to have sold over 80 million records. In memory of her, concerts are still held live, on television and radio in Japan.
Reon Cadena
Japanese actress and glamor model. Her first photo shoot took place at the age of 18 and was a great success. In 2005, Reon played in an erotic drama, and three years later, together with her friends, she starred in a comedy about secret agents.
Subsequently, Kadena participated in many television dramas popular among the Japanese, as well as in the thriller “The Left Hand of God, the Right Hand of the Devil.” She is done with erotic roles, allowing herself maximum photo shoots in swimsuits.
Sadako Sasaki / Sadako Sasaki (1943 - 1955)
Symbol of innocent victims of war
Sadako lived 1 mile from where the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. She was two years old then. The girl and her family managed to survive. However, when Sadako turned nine years old, she developed leukemia, a disease that affected many children in the area.
Sadako's friend told her the legend of a thousand cranes: if you fold a thousand origami cranes, that person's wish will come true. Sadako carefully folded paper cranes from whatever material she could find. But on October 25 of the same year she died without achieving her goal.
Sadako Sasaki serves as a symbol of children and other innocent victims of war. Using the funds raised, a memorial was erected in honor of Sadako in the Peace Park of Hiroshima in May 1958. Children to this day continue to fold paper cranes to decorate her memorial.
Sadako is a poignant reminder of why Japan included Article 9 (prohibiting war as a means of settling international disputes) in its Constitution.
Features of Japanese culture i
The easiest way to explain why Japanese women don't shave their pubic hair is from a cultural point of view. It should be noted that this tradition is widespread throughout much of Asia, where Japan is located.
Interestingly, complete hair removal is not encouraged in ordinary families or in certain cultures, but in Japan it is considered good form to partially or completely remove unwanted hair using natural remedies.
In some regions, on the contrary, walking in an unkempt manner is frowned upon, and women who for some reason do not want to shave their hair, they hide it if they go to the beach, so that no one around them will notice at least one hair peeking out from underneath. bikini.
Depending on the region of Japan, excess hair may be perceived as vulgar and must be removed entirely. In other areas, on the contrary, bare pubis is considered bad form.
In Japan, most women show their pubic area only to their spouse, and never cheat on their partner, however, even in this case, they strive to follow traditions. Russians don’t always understand why Japanese women don’t shave their pubic hair, but the answer to this question is simple - it’s just part of the culture, a tradition that has developed over centuries.
Kimie Iwata (1947)
Former Executive Vice President of Shiseido Co., Ltd.
Iwata is a rare example of a female leader in Japan. The fact is that in the land of the samurai, according to the Bureau of Gender Equality, women make up less than 1% of the heads of leading Japanese companies and only 10% of managers overall.
After graduating from the University of Tokyo in 1971, Kimi Iwata immediately joined the Ministry of Labor, where she helped create the Equal Employment Opportunity Law in the mid-1980s.
In 2003, she joined Shiseido, Japan's largest cosmetics company and the fourth largest in the world. Until 2012, she served as corporate director and executive vice president at the company. Iwata strongly supported female employees at Shiseido and advocated for a more female-friendly corporate ethos.
Kimi Iwata also participated as the forum's chief representative on women's empowerment. She is also a member of the Council for Gender Equality.
Naturalism is part of Japanese culture3
The main reason why ladies in the land of the rising sun are in no hurry to get rid of the “wild vegetation” in the intimate area is tradition. From time immemorial, people in the country have been inclined towards naturalism, and have always accepted their body as nature gave it to man.
It is believed that a woman’s pubic hair is the most important evidence of normal puberty, and some men, on the contrary, prefer to see their chosen one with lush fur in the intimate area, as proof that she is no longer a girl.
The culture of Russia and America is very different from Japanese. Shaving the pubic area is a traditionally European way of grooming, a fashion that originated in America and did not reach Japan. Even in Russia, this tradition appeared relatively recently and has not yet fully taken root.
An interesting opinion is that since the Japanese strive for naturalism, they, in principle, do not tolerate any incomprehensible procedures, since they believe that shaving hair on the face, legs, and armpits is a way to hide their real face, to become someone else.
The Japanese prefer not to deceive their partner, but to show their real appearance. In this way, they ensure strong and reliable alliances, since everyone immediately understands what kind of person is in front of them. Read about the most beautiful Japanese women in our article at the link.
