The Shiken Fujin Memorial Museum is a facility celebrating and informing about the achievements of the Shiken Fujin, or the “Four Wise Women.” Takezaki Junko, Tokutomi Hisako, Yokoi Tsuseko, and Yajima Kajiko strove to improve the education and status of women in modern Japan and laid the foundations for gender equality in society today.
Born sisters to the Yajima family, a So Shoya (village head), the four women devoted their lives to improving the social status of women. They established schools for women and participated in the women’s liberation movement throughout Japan, leaving many lasting impacts on the women who would follow.
The building is a replica of the Yajima house, which was built in the late Edo period. Inside the two-story establishment are exhibits of old texts, daily necessities, and other items related to the Four Wise Women. Visitors can even learn about the Yajima family tree, the family’s achievements, and more using the touchscreen displays.