Born in 1860, Ōyama Sutematsu became the first Japanese woman to earn a college degree, navigating the tumultuous transition from the Tokugawa shogunate to the Meiji era. Her journey from a child survivor of the Battle of Aizu to a Vassar College graduate established her as a pioneer in Japanese women's education and nursing advocacy.
Early Conflict and Displacement
Raised in a samurai household, Ōyama experienced the 1868 Battle of Aizu during the Boshin War. As a refugee within Tsuruga Castle, she survived a month-long siege characterized by bombardment and extreme scarcity. Following the surrender in 1868, she and her family were held in a prisoner camp before enduring exile in the Tonami District, where she faced extreme physical hardship as a young child.
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In 1871, she joined the Iwakura Mission to study in the United States. She lived with the Leonard Bacon family in New Haven, Connecticut, completing her education at Hillhouse High School. She later enrolled at Vassar College, where she became the first nonwhite student, ultimately graduating with an A.B. degree in 1882. Her stay in America included brief training in nursing before her return to Japan.
Social and Educational Impact
Upon returning to Japan in 1882, she married General Ōyama Iwao, eventually attaining the rank of Princess in 1905. A central figure in the Rokumeikan era, she leveraged her status to promote Western customs and social reform. She was instrumental in founding the Peeresses' School and the Women's Home School of English, which became Tsuda University, and participated in the Patriotic Women's Association.
Final Years
Ōyama maintained an active role in social philanthropy and advocacy for women's professional development until her final years. Her influence persisted through the institutions she helped establish, which prioritized higher education for Japanese women. She died in Tokyo City in 1919 during the 1918 flu pandemic and was buried at Nasushiobara.
Fast facts
- Born: 1860, Aizuwakamatsu
- Died: 1919, Tokyo City
- College: Vassar College
- High School: Hillhouse High School
- Marriage: Ōyama Iwao
- Religion: Nihon Kumiai Kirisuto Kyōkai
- Citizenship: Empire of Japan, Tokugawa shogunate
- Burial site: Nasushiobara
Questions readers ask
Was she the first Japanese woman to attend a university?
Yes, she was the first Japanese woman to receive a college degree.
What institutions did she help establish?
She assisted in the founding of the Peeresses' School and the Women's Home School of English, later known as Tsuda University.
Achievements
- Held posts at Tsuda University
