WOMEN OF JAPAN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 46, 17 November 1917, Page 2

WOMEN OF JAPAN

The increased industrial activity of Japan has opened up new nnd wider spheres of work for the Japnueso women. So says the writer of an interesting article in tho "Noar East." As far as the educated class is concerned thero is one considerable drawback. Except in medicine, wo are told, "tho higher walks ot professional life are'denied the Japancso women by the lack of higher education, there being no institution of university rank for women. In spite of this handicap two T'ouiuf women, Chika Kuroda and Baku 'Makita, graduated from the Tokio Imperial University last summer, the first women to take tho baccalaureato in Japan. Miss Makita will continue, her work in chemistry for ji further three vears, at tho end of which time slio will probably become a Doctor or Science. There aro now 831! woman doctors practising in Japan, while in this vonr's examination for medical practice in Tokio 27 of tho 39 candidates who passed were women. Practising for themselves, with a small privato hospital, thoy can earn from 300 to 400 yen (about £Ui to .£4O) a month." This is considered a cnmfortnblo income, though, ol course, tho price of living in Jnpau is rising just as elsewhere, and therefore n rather larger incomn v;ill soon be required to give nu equal standard of livinjr. The stage is another comparatively new occupation for Japanese womon, in yrhieli there aro high incomes for afew. 'This profession is hardly open to girls without a. high school education, as the long roles in the historic Jnpnne*o drama require no little mental discipline. A girl usually starts her work in tho dramatic schools attached to tho big theatres. If she becomes a star she will get 20fl von, but "tho stylo of livinij she has to follow soon eats into her salary." AVo may compare this with the statement of a London male star v;ho. during his examination in the bankruptcy court, stated that tho minimum weekly cost of living suitable to his "position" would not be less than .£4O, and this in regard to hotel expenses on provincial tours. A quite new occupation for women in Japan is that of typist. Thoy are usually hired by foreign firms, and receive 25 yen at tho start, cetline 45 yen at the end of two years. School teachers get ifl to 15 yen in a primary school, and more thaii 50 yen in a girls' high school. Storegirlfi are another new development in Japan, tho department 6tore being comparatively recent.