Suffrage Marked By Women’s Week

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31007, 12 March 1966, Page 2

Suffrage Marked By Women’s Week

The granting of suffrage to women on the same basis as men is considered one of the most important social reforms of post-war Japan. It marked a decisive step in the elevation of the status of women in all phases of life.

When Women’s Week in Japan opens on April 10, the twentieth anniversary of the first day women went to the polls will be commemorated. Not content to rest on past gains, Japanese women will look to the future and study their place in a changing society.

Women’s Week, which was Inaugurated 17 years ago, is in itself indicative of the growing stature of women in Japah—the daughters and granddaughters of the “onna” who was kept in the background with no rights as a citizen.

This year the week will be marked by a national conference of about 60 women leaders in Tokyo, selected from thousands who applied to attend.

Group conferences of j

women will also be held in each prefecture of the country. They will express views at the local level on “Women’s Role in a Changing Society,” the theme of the national convention.

Many rallies will be held in many places during the week. Posters, leaflets and pamphlets will be distributed throughout the campaign to keep citizens in the picture. Aimed at the further advancement for women, the weeks seems to be a serious time set aside for thinking, discussions and action, where necessary. There is no mention of parties or social events in a programme which has come to Christchurch. National Support

Women’s Week in Japan was founded by the Women’s and Minors’ Bureau of the Labour Ministry in 1949 “in memory of the first exercise of the vote on April 10, 1946.” Still sponsored by the bureau the campaign week is now operated by the spontane-

ous participation of groups of men and women from various ministries, local governments, women’s, youth, labour, welfare and international organisations; public and private enterprises, press, radio and television agencies. The Labour Ministry sets a specific theme for the annual week, prepares and distributes material for public information and holds some specific programmes of its own. “Women’s Role in the Changing Society” is the theme chosen because of the significance of the twentieth anniversary of the first exercise of voting rights for Japanese women’s says a circular from the Women's and Minor’s Bureau. Contributory

"Being conscious of the increasing need of women’s contribution to the human wellbeing, we invite our sisters in all walks of life to the full awareness of the facts and problems arising in the changing society,” it says. “We invite them to review their achievements made over the last 20 years and to reexamine the roles women should perform as homemakers, mothers, workers and citizens in active participation in all aspects of the nation’s life.”

The week, from April 10 to 16, will be observed throughout the country. A message of good will has been sent to the women of Japan by the national president of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (Mrs W. Grant).