Motoko Hani and the Jiyu Gakuen

Nicola Robertson

Motoko Hani and the Jiyu Gakuen

Nicola Robertson

Strathclyde Institute Of Education

Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

Abstract

It can be argued that every educational thinker spotlighted in the pages of this bulletin may be justifiably bestowed with the title of ‘pioneer’. However, Motoko Hani is one who really did earn this accolade as Japan’s first ever female journalist but, more importantly for this special issue, she pioneered a philosophy of education for women in the 1920s culminating in an institution that is still a going concern over 100 years later – the Jiyu Gakuen. The school acts, I will argue, as an elegant manifestation of Hani’s philosophy of liberty and self-governance and this is none more apparent than when observing the notions of liberty, unity and authority as central to her ideas via her alternative uses of time and space as pedagogical tools.

Original language	English
Pages	36-38
Volume	October 2025
Specialist publication	SERA Researching Education Bulletin
Publication status	Published - 10 Oct 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 5 Gender Equality

Keywords

Japan
women
philosophy of education
Jiyu Gakuen

Access to Document

https://www.sera.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/10/SERA-REB-Brilliant-Yet-Shadowed-Final-Manuscript-1.pdf

1 Special issue

Brilliant yet shadowed: Shining a light on lesser-known thinkers of education
Robertson, N. (Editor) & Prajapati, V. (Editor), 10 Oct 2025, In: SERA Researching Education Bulletin. 2025, 60 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Special issue › peer-review

Open Access

2 Oral presentation
1 Conference, workshop, seminar or course

Brilliant Yet Shadowed Seminar Series
Robertson, N. (Organiser), Prajapati, V. (Organiser) & Quinn, M. (Organiser)
Feb 2026 → May 2026
Activity: Presenting or Organising an Event › Conference, workshop, seminar or course
Motoko Hani and the Jiyu Gakuen
Robertson, N. (Speaker)
20 Feb 2026
Activity: Talk or Presentation › Oral presentation
Brilliant Yet Shadowed: Shining a Light on Lesser Known Thinkers in Education
Robertson, N. (Speaker), Prajapati, V. (Speaker), Surendran, S. (Speaker) & Goswami, T. (Speaker)
20 Nov 2025
Activity: Talk or Presentation › Oral presentation

Cite this

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title = "Motoko Hani and the Jiyu Gakuen",

abstract = "It can be argued that every educational thinker spotlighted in the pages of this bulletin may be justifiably bestowed with the title of {\textquoteleft}pioneer{\textquoteright}. However, Motoko Hani is one who really did earn this accolade as Japan{\textquoteright}s first ever female journalist but, more importantly for this special issue, she pioneered a philosophy of education for women in the 1920s culminating in an institution that is still a going concern over 100 years later – the Jiyu Gakuen. The school acts, I will argue, as an elegant manifestation of Hani{\textquoteright}s philosophy of liberty and self-governance and this is none more apparent than when observing the notions of liberty, unity and authority as central to her ideas via her alternative uses of time and space as pedagogical tools. ",

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author = "Nicola Robertson",

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language = "English",

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journal = "SERA Researching Education Bulletin",

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N2 - It can be argued that every educational thinker spotlighted in the pages of this bulletin may be justifiably bestowed with the title of ‘pioneer’. However, Motoko Hani is one who really did earn this accolade as Japan’s first ever female journalist but, more importantly for this special issue, she pioneered a philosophy of education for women in the 1920s culminating in an institution that is still a going concern over 100 years later – the Jiyu Gakuen. The school acts, I will argue, as an elegant manifestation of Hani’s philosophy of liberty and self-governance and this is none more apparent than when observing the notions of liberty, unity and authority as central to her ideas via her alternative uses of time and space as pedagogical tools.

AB - It can be argued that every educational thinker spotlighted in the pages of this bulletin may be justifiably bestowed with the title of ‘pioneer’. However, Motoko Hani is one who really did earn this accolade as Japan’s first ever female journalist but, more importantly for this special issue, she pioneered a philosophy of education for women in the 1920s culminating in an institution that is still a going concern over 100 years later – the Jiyu Gakuen. The school acts, I will argue, as an elegant manifestation of Hani’s philosophy of liberty and self-governance and this is none more apparent than when observing the notions of liberty, unity and authority as central to her ideas via her alternative uses of time and space as pedagogical tools.

KW - Japan

KW - women

KW - philosophy of education

KW - Jiyu Gakuen

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SN - 2752-4000

VL - October 2025

SP - 36

EP - 38

JO - SERA Researching Education Bulletin

JF - SERA Researching Education Bulletin

ER -

Motoko Hani and the Jiyu Gakuen

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

Brilliant yet shadowed: Shining a light on lesser-known thinkers of education

Activities

Brilliant Yet Shadowed Seminar Series

Motoko Hani and the Jiyu Gakuen

Brilliant Yet Shadowed: Shining a Light on Lesser Known Thinkers in Education

Cite this