"Every contribution is solid. . . . Having examined social fields particular to women, the contributors take a fresh perspective in revisiting the place of women in broad social, political, and economic contexts."
--David Howell in the Journal of Japanese Studies

Women and Class in Japanese History marks an important moment not only in the study of gender and women in Japanese society but also in the development of collaborative efforts between Japanese and Western scholars on the subject. It is a product of half a decade of international seminars and discussions held among scholars of various disciplines and perspectives who share the goal of promoting a better understanding of the historical and contemporary constructions of gender in Japan. Their conclusions, presented in the fourteen essays in this volume, will attract people interested both in the history of Japan and the history of women.