Introduction: The Modest but Urgent Voices of Contemporary Japanese Feminism

Abstract

This chapter introduces the feminist activists whose testimonies form the basis of the main 6 chapters of the book. It suggests these testimonies overall show Japan’s contemporary feminist movement to be modest and limited, but this characterisation refers to its current influence and reach rather than its future potential. The chapter notes a raft of English-language books already addressing Japan’s feminist movement, but not exclusively from the point of view of the activists involved, nor necessarily those involved in the contemporary movement. Insufficient attention and support given this movement by the English-speaking feminist world is lamented, and action by the global feminist movement to rally around local Japanese activists is urged, to support their efforts to stem further decline in the social position of women and girls in Japan, which the chapter describes. While the chapter notes a range of problems these women and girls currently face, it nonetheless suggests the global feminist movement is pivoting towards East Asia.KeywordsContemporary Japanese feminist movement#MeToo#WeTooFeminist activistSouth Korean feminismCOVID-19 pandemicItō ShioriPolitical alienation among Japanese womenGlobal feminismEast Asia