Haruko Wakita (脇田晴子, Wakita Haruko, March 9, 1934 – September 27, 2016[1]) was a Japanese academic, editor and expert in medieval Japanese women's history.[2]
Early life
Since the age of six, Wakita was interested in Noh drama; and she regularly performs on stage. The insight gained from her lifelong study and practice of this medieval theatrical art informs her historical research.[3]
She was awarded a BA in Japanese history at Kobe University in 1956. Further studies led to an MA in 1960 and a PhD in 1969 from Kyoto University.[3]
One of her works, 中世京都と祗園祭, helped pave the way for women to participate in Kyoto's modern Gion Festival, an ancient festival that had been all-male for centuries.[4]
She participated in research projects with historians in France, Italy and the United States. Her work with French scholars resulted in a monograph in Japanese. Her work with colleagues at the University of Michigan produced in edited volumes and contributions in English.[3]
Selected works
In a statistical overview derived from writings by and about Haruko Wakita, OCLC/WorldCat encompasses roughly 40+ works in 80 publications in 3 languages and 1,000+ library holdings.[5]
"Town Festivals: Medieval Towns and Seigniorial Authority in Medieval Japan" (Translated by Dr. James McMullen), STUDIES IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, Vo. 1., 2991
日本中世女性史の研究: 性別役割分担と母性・家政・性愛 (1992)
ジェンダーの日本史 (1994)
中世に生きる女たち (1995)
"Fêtes et communautés urbaines dans le Japon médiéval. La fête de Gion à Kyôto" (Traduit par Pierre-François Souyri), ANNALES 52o ANNÉE-No5, 1997.
中世京都と祗園祭 （1999）
Women and class in Japanese history (1999) with Hitomi Tonomura and Anne Walthall
Gender and Japanese history (1999) with Anne Bouchy and Chizuko Ueno
女性芸能の源流: 傀儡子・曲舞・白拍子 (2001)
Women in medieval Japan : motherhood, household management and sexuality (2006)
