Ginko Ogino: Woman in a man’s world
Ginko Ogino (荻野吟子) was one of Japan’s early medical and feminist pioneers. Have you heard of her? Trials and tribulations filled her life. She rests in the beautiful Zoshigaya Cemetery. Let’s learn more.
A Brief History of Ginko Ogino
Born on March 3, 1851, in Saitama prefecture next to Tokyo, she married at sixteen. Her husband infected her with gonorrhea, which led to their divorce. Contracting such a disease was shameful in those days. To compound that problem, it probably wasn’t pleasant to be treated by male doctors. As a result, she decided to become a doctor to help women.
She took the doctor’s examination after graduating from the Tokyo Women’s Normal School. Guess who became Japan’s first female registered doctor in 1885? Specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, Ginkgo opened a hospital in Yushima. Men dominated medicine at the time, so she was a trailblazer for future generations of women.
Ginko remarried in 1890 to a Protestant clergyman and went with him to Hokkaido in 1894, where she ran another practice. She returned to Tokyo in 1908 after her husband’s death and resumed running her hospital. She died in 1913 and now lies in Zoshigaya Cemetery.
A lifelike statue of her, dressed in Western-style clothes, is next to ther grave. It’s a young and fashionable Ginko. Does it look like the doctor? I’ve only seen photos of her taken later in life, so I can’t comment. This is a different Tokyo photo spot for sure!
Fresh flowers are often there. I assume people visit her to pay respects. She is another giant of Japanese history.
Where is Ginko Ogino buried?
She lies in the green and peaceful Zoshigaya Cemetery near the concrete jungle of Ikebukuro. Many famous people rest there too. Some consider it a quirky place to learn Japanese history, but I’ve learned much.
How to find her grave
Get a map with the grave number and location from the cemetery’s administration building. That information will get you close to her. Her statue is a good landmark, so focus on that. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites:
- The life of a trailblazer: Ogino Ginko (on Hektoen International)