Events

In 1913, three women enrolled in Tohoku Imperial University (as Tohoku University was then known) and made history. Chika Kuroda, Ume Tange (both of whom studied chemistry) and Raku Makita (who studied mathematics) became the first women to be accepted to a Japanese university as students.

They not only broke the gender barrier in Japanese higher education, but went on to very successful post-graduation careers. Kuroda, in particular, was the first Japanese woman to earn a PhD in chemistry, and she became a well-known scientist.

From October 7, the Tohoku University Archives will host an exhibition to mark the 110th anniversary of Japan's first female university students, with a special retrospective of Kuroda's life.

Exhibition period: October 7 - December 22, 2023
Venue: Tohoku University Archives, 2nd floor, Special Exhibition Area
Address: Katahira Campus, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai
Opening hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. weekends and public holidays until November 5.
Admission is free

Two other exhibitions will be held simultaneously at Aobayama campus and Kawauchi campus, each also tracing the extraordinary path forged by Kuroda, Tange and Makita, and celebrating the thousands of other women who have followed in their footsteps.