Project representative:
Wirtz Fernando(Special Appointed Assist/Professor/Dept. of Japanese Philosophy/Kyoto University)

Collaborating researchers and co-researchers:
・Takeuchi Sayaka(Doctoral program/Faculty of Letters/Division of Joint Degree Master of Arts Program in Transcultural Studies/Kyoto University)
・Arisaka Yoko(Research Fellow/Hildesheim University)
・Cui Tracey(Doctoral program/Faculty of Law/Kyoto University)
・Takase Megumi(Master’s program/Graduate School of Letters/Division of Joint Degree Master of Arts Program in Transcultural Studies/Kyoto University)  
・Wada-Marciano Mitsuyo(Professor/Graduate School of Letters/ Division of Joint Degree Master of Arts Program in Transcultural Studies/Kyoto University)

Introducing this project

This research project set out to challenge the assumption that there is no meaningful relationship between the Kyoto School of philosophy and the question of gender. The guiding question—What is the relationship between the Kyoto School and gender?—already contains multiple layers. It assumes, first of all, that discussing gender is not limited to discussing women. Gender also encompasses masculinity and other forms of gender expression. However, from a historical perspective, especially in Japan in the 1930s to 1940s, the question of women and the question of gender are deeply intertwined.
Our approach, therefore, was to relate the issue of gender to that of women while carefully distinguishing between the two. This led us to explore three main methodological perspectives:

1. Philological Analysis – We examined how gender-related terms (e.g., danjo, woman, body, and family) appear in the writings of Kyoto School philosophers, and analyzed figures like Tsuchida Kyōson and Tosaka Jun, who directly addressed women’s roles in society.
2.  Biographical and Social Context – We investigated how Kyoto School philosophers related to women in both intellectual and personal contexts. Notable figures include Takahashi Fumi (Nishida’s niece), Miyamoto Yuriko, and Itagaki Naoko, all of whom engaged critically with Kyoto School members.
3. Philosophical Engagement – We explored how Kyoto School concepts, such as Nishida’s notion of the “historical body” might be mobilized for contemporary gender theory. These ideas can contribute to rethinking the sex/gender distinction beyond biologicism or relativism.

The project culminated in the workshop “The Kyoto School and Gender” held on February 20, 2025, at Kyoto University with the support of the FY 2024 Interdisciplinary Research Initiative of the Institute for the Future of Human Society. The workshop featured five presentations by Megumi Takase, Moe Sanada, Sayaka Takeuchi, Shōko Takaya, and Yōko Arisaka. Following the presentations, a roundtable discussion was held, facilitated by Tracy Cai, with participation from the speakers and project editors, including Emi Kobayashi. The event attracted around 30 participants. After the event, the Kyoto Shinbun featured an article about the workshop for the occasion of the International Women’s Day.
The book resulting from this project brings together the workshop contributions and additional reflections.