Born into a samurai family of the Iwamura domain in Mino (Ena, Gifu).
She entered court service; the empress, admiring her poetry, gave her the name Utako.
She left court and married, taking the surname Shimoda.
She opened a school for daughters of the elite.
She became a professor at the Peeresses' School, at the heart of women's education.
She toured Europe and America to study women's education.
She founded the Jissen Girls' School (later Jissen Women's University) for women of all classes.
She became head of the girls' division of the Gakushūin.
She died.
Josiah ConderKitasato ShibasaburōErnest FenollosaTakamine JōkichiKomura JutarōUeki EmoriMikimoto KōkichiTsubouchi Shōyō
People of the Meiji period ・ People by period
Based on facts found in textbooks and biographies. Uncertain points are marked as such.