Born into a farming family in Asaji village, Aichi (Ichinomiya).
She graduated from the Aichi women's normal school and became an elementary school teacher.
She became a reporter for a Nagoya newspaper.
With Hiratsuka Raichō and others she founded the New Women's Association, seeking women's political participation.
She went to America to study the women's movement.
She founded an organization demanding women's suffrage and led the campaign.
After the war, women won the vote; the next year they voted for the first time.
She won a seat in the House of Councillors, campaigning for clean, inexpensive elections.
Despite her advanced age she won the most votes nationwide in the upper house election.
She died in Tokyo.
Kikuchi KanKagawa ToyohikoKishida RyūseiKanakuri ShisōAkutagawa RyūnosukeItō NoeMiyazawa KenjiKaneko Misuzu
People of the Taishō period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.