Born in 1896, Raichō Hiratsuka was a pioneering figure in Japan’s women’s liberation movement.
In 1911, she founded Seitō (Bluestocking), a literary magazine created by women, which for the first time publicly asserted women’s self-expression and intellectual independence in Japanese society.

Her declaration, “In the beginning, woman was the sun,” has become an enduring principle in the history of Japanese women’s movements.
After World War II, she elevated the pursuit of women’s liberation into a broader philosophy of peace, advocating against rearmament, for world peace, and for solidarity among women across Asia.

She transformed the image of women from passive members of the household into active agents of social change, and remains a foundational figure in Japan’s feminist and peace thought.

When women awaken, society awakens.
When women live freely learning, speaking, choosing, and acting—the world moves closer to peace.

Rights are not granted from outside; they arise from inner dignity.
Raise your voice without fear, stand as yourself, and live for the sake of others.

Peace does not begin with states, but with the hearts of individuals.
And it is women—who carry life and protect everyday living who possess the power to nurture that peace.