Japanese history is not all shoguns and samurai: women played a prominent role. In the early centuries Chinese envoys called the part of Japan they knew ‘Queen Country’ because there were so many female rulers. Today there is much debate about whether a woman can ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne. But in fact in the past there were several empresses, including a couple in the fairly recent past.

In her talk Lesley Downer will tell the story of Himiko, the shaman queen, and of some of the early empresses. Even after women ceased to be rulers, brilliant and powerful figures such as Nene-dono, Hideyoshi’s wife, continued to wield power from behind the throne. There were also women writers and artists who helped shape Japanese history, such as the witty and irreverent court ladies of the Heian period, along with women warriors who were as doughty as men, courtesans who were the queens of pleasure quarter culture and the indomitable feminists of Taisho.

By discussing the many roles women have played throughout Japanese history, Lesley will provide a new and refreshing perspective on that history, while putting paid once and for all to the egregious stereotype of the ‘submissive geisha’.

About The contributors

Lesley Downer

Lesley Downer is an author, historian and all-round Japan buff. Her mother was Chinese and her father a professor of Chinese. She ended up almost by accident in Japan and became fascinated by its culture and people. She lived there for years and often goes back. She has written many books, fiction and non-fiction, about it.

Lesley has written for the Spectator, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times Magazine and other publications. She has lectured on, amongst other places, a vast ship called The World that circles the globe forever like a modern-day Flying Dutchman. She was the historical consultant for Northern Ballet’s spectacular 2020 ballet, Geisha, and has appeared on Netflix in Age of the Samurai: Battle for Japan and in Pernel Media’s documentary film Sekigahara.

Lesley’s latest book, The Shortest History of Japan, is the gripping saga of 16,500 years of Japanese history. Her first book, On the Narrow Road to the Deep North, was recently reissued by Eland.