Yayoi Yoshioka

She established modern medical education for women in Japan. She is also the founder of Tokyo Women's Medical University. She was born in Shizuoka Prefecture. She graduated from Saisei Gakusha and became one of the first female doctors in Japan to open a practice, but her own experiences led her to decide to educate the next generation, and after much effort, she founded the modest Tokyo Women's Medical School (1900). This became Tokyo Women's Medical College and then Tokyo Women's Medical University, a rare medical school for women in the world, and has grown into one of Japan's leading private medical schools. She also held many important positions in society, and was an active voice in improving the status of women. She also wrote enlightening writings. After World War II, she was banned from holding public office, but was later lifted and became the president of Tokyo Women's Medical University. Her son Hiroto (1902-1991) also became the president of the same university.

[Yoji Nagatoya]

"The Life of Yayoi Yoshioka" by Kiyoshi Kanzaki (1941, Tokyo Women's Association Publishing Division/Reprint edition, 1967, Biography Publishing Association)" ▽ "Yoshioka Yayoi" by Kimie Takami (1960, Chuokoron-Shinsha Publishing)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本における近代女子医学教育の確立者。東京女子医科大学の創始者。静岡県生まれ。済生(さいせい)学舎を卒業し、日本の初期の女医の一人となり開業したが、自らの体験から後進を教育することを決意し、苦心のすえささやかながら東京女医学校を創始（1900）。これは東京女子医学専門学校を経て東京女子医科大学となり、世界的にも珍しい女性のための医大で、日本でも有数の私立医大に成長している。また社会的な要職にも多くつき、活発に発言して女子の地位向上に尽くした。啓蒙(けいもう)的な著述もある。第二次世界大戦後、公職追放を受けたがその後解除され、東京女子医大学頭となった。子息の博人(ひろと)（1902―1991）も同医大学長についた。

［長門谷洋治］

『神崎清著『吉岡弥生伝』（1941・東京連合婦人会出版部／復刻版・1967・伝記刊行会）』▽『高見君恵著『吉岡弥生』（1960・中央公論事業出版）』

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