Sumiko Iwao
Sumiko Iwao (岩男 寿美子, Iwao Sumiko, January 2, 1935 – January 11, 2018) was a Japanese psychologist, educator, editor and professor emeritus at Keio University in Tokyo. She served as the editor-in-chief of Japan Echo, an English-language magazine and predecessor of Nippon.com, from 1997 until 2007, as well as a member of the Echo's editorial board from 1985 until 2007.[1]
Iwao was born on January 2, 1935. She graduated from Keio University in Tokyo and then obtained her doctorate in psychology from Yale University in the U.S. state of Connecticut.[1] She served as a professor at Keio University and Musashi Institute of Technology (present-day Tokyo City University), as well as a visiting professor at Harvard University in the United States.[1]
She chaired the national Council on Gender Equality and served on the National Public Safety Commission of Japan, in addition to other government and public service posts.[1] In addition to her work as a profession and social psychologist, Iwao authored numerous books and papers focusing on women in Japan, foreigners in Japan (often called Gaijin), and the Japanese media.[1] Her best known works included "The Japanese Woman: Traditional Image and Changing Reality", which was published in 1992.[1][2]
Iwao retired from Keio University in 2005 and stepped down as editor-in-chief of Japan Echo in 2007.[1] However, she remained active in children's education, especially for girls. Iwao was chairwoman of Group Kilimanjaro, which operates the Sakura Girls Secondary School, a boarding school in Tanzania.[1]
In 2007, Iwao was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun.[1]
Sumiko Iwao died on January 11, 2018, at the age of 83.[1]
References
- "Obituary: Iwao Sumiko, 1935–2018". Nippon.com. 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2018-02-09.
- "The Japanese Woman review". Kirkus Reviews. 2010-05-20. Retrieved 2018-02-09.