Shimoda Utako\u27s Investgation and Cultural Interaction in Europe around the Sino-Japanese War : A Study of Manners and Customs of Western Women (Taisei fujo fuzoku)
Shimoda Utako (1884-1936) was a pioneer of women\u27s education in modern Japan. During this time, in September of 1889 she visited many European countries including Britain and stayed for around two years to gain an insight into princess education and girls general education. Utako served as a female officer in Miyanaka in the 1870\u27s and became a professor. In 1875, she was the principal of a newly established school, Peeresses\u27 School. Around 1890, Utako\u27s salary was raised to 2,400 yen per year all due to the strong trust she had with the empress allowing her to gain almost government official status within society. By 1893, Utako was handed over the education of Ryomiya, the inner king. During this period, Utako\u27s desire for the West and Western aristocratic women\u27s education became a major target for her in order to educate her parents so that they would not lose their gratitude for foreigners visitors in the future. Upon doing this Utako decided to apply for an European tour. Takayuki Sasaki, the secretary counsellor in charge of the inner kings in Miyanai Prefecture accepted her and she went to Europe to get an insight into princess education. Previous research on Utako\u27s life and girls education by Keiko Ozeki in her paper "Mayo Hinaki Michi" - Utako Shimoda Trajectory of UK Women\u27s Educational Visit" (I . II) focuses on the study of British girl\u27s higher education, including the University of Cambridge Newnum College, Cheltenham Lady\u27s College, and Oxford University Somerville College. Utako\u27s visits were not only limited to aristocratic women\u27s education but extended to the lives of ordinary girls, including education for families, manners and etiquette in society. During the reign of Queen Victoria there were various conflicting ideas and opinions about Utako wearing Japanese clothes and asserting her cultural indifferences. Shuzo Aoki (the then E.E. A. and Utako made significant cultural exchanges and religious ideas with Queen Victoria in order to come to an agreement. Mrs Aoki also consulted Mrs. Gordon whom which they exchange opinions on the education of European class girls and religious indifferences. "Taisei fujo fuzoku" was a book released four years after Utako returned to Japan (Volume of Women\u27s Studies, Volume 1, Jogakusho Vol.1, July 1989) , detailing every encounter and experience she had. In this abstract I would like to outline the multifaceted nature of Utako\u27s visits to Europe and also reconsider the stance of Utako\u27s actions over tradition and innovation.中谷伸生教授古稀記念
