The new tradition

Increasingly Japanese women are breaking with stereotyping and chauvinism to assert themselves in this male-dominated nation.
KS meets some sportswomen who are doing it for themselves.

As part of Time magazine's recent feature on life in Japan, the famous cartoonist Sakamoto drew four types of ‘typical' Japanese women: ‘Desperate Housewives'; ‘Little Princesses', ‘Career Women' and the aptly-named ‘Bad Grrrls' [sic]. The title of the cartoon ‘When no choice is a good one' made Sakamoto's statement for the future clear.

“I think the writer is a little out of date,” Yoshi giggles when I tell her this. She is coming up for her 40th birthday and has recently started learning acrobatics because she “always wanted to learn back-flips.” One of a team of professional dancers at USJ and an occasional stunt performer, she is the antithesis of Sakamoto's characters - a woman who defies classification.

“Sometimes it's a little scary. But Japanese women are improving. These days women aren't just the people [in the Sakamoto cartoon] Women are enjoying their lives more.” “Everyone in this group trains the same,” Her coach says, guiding Yoshi and her team through the movements they will have to perform in their upcoming showcase. He is keen to impress on me that training hard is part of their lifestyle, three to four hours of exercise being a typical Wednesday night, “Hopefully people will realize that women are competing at the same level as men in most sports.”

“I don't feel any handicap in the team, being a woman or a Japanese,” Formula 3 (F3) racer Keiko Ihara states, shortly before she represents Carlin in the best F3 series in the world - British F3. The list of celebrity drivers who have gone through British F3 to international success includes such luminaries as Ayrton Senna, Lella Lombardi (Arguably the most successful female driver of F1), Rubens Barrichello, and David Coulthard. Keiko is clear in her aims, “What I aim for now is to become the best F3 rookie of the year.”

Keiko's desire to break into the demanding world of racing is further complicated by the response to her success in the media. The attitude both at home and abroad showed clearly the problems Japanese women have with being accepted for their talent as opposed to their sexuality. The recent BBC article on Keiko included a couple of paragraphs detailing other driver's attempts to seduce her before any information about her successes. Subsequent articles in Asia and America almost without exception included a paragraph or two about her former career as a model. Keiko admits with resignation that “sometimes it is difficult to be taken seriously.”

Shinsumo (Ladies sumo) contestants likewise have to overcome prejudice and ignorance as well as physical challenges. Thanks to Sumo's application to become an Olympic sport, shinsumo has suddenly found itself in the media for the first time. The recent series of articles on shinsumo, whilst largely positive, have included many sly allusions to the sport's origin as a misogynistic spectacle in ancient Japan or jokes about ‘fat women in loincloths'.

The problem is further compounded by the traditional banning of women from male Sumo bouts, in extreme cases causing women to battle in separate venues. Many commentators also point to the renaming of the sport as ‘new sumo' was a way for sumo to ‘appease the traditionalists'. Others question whether ladies sumo may just be a way for sumo to conform to the requirements for an Olympic sport. Despite all these problems, participation in the sport has increased 10 fold since 1996.

“We're not a novelty act - and we'll prove it through our matches,” Rie Tsuihiji the 2002 national champion of shinsumo is certain what she wants people who see her to focus on. Like all shinsumo wrestlers she is amateur, stating simply, “We're in it for the sport.”

A desire to play sports does not fully explain the reasons for the changing attitudes of women towards sports. The statistics can do little but suggest reasons for this shift. The Gender- Equality Bureau of Tokyo's report showed significantly more women than men advancing from high school to university/ junior college. Coupled with The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication's report showing “a rise in the ratio of employed females with … short hours compared with males.” At best longer university careers and shorter hours offer a limited explanation, and don't explain why many older women are returning to sports, despite having families and full time careers.

“I think all of that is a part of it, but there is more to it,” ‘Alegria' Iwasaki has earned her respect competing in Shoriji Kempo tournaments. In a career spanning seven years, she reached the heights of 7th in the national mixed-sex tournaments. Currently she is in Japan as an ambassador of the Afro- Brazilian martial art capoeira. When asked about her motivations she is keen to point out that many women have “their own, unique motivations.”

“I employ whoever is the best,” Sauva, the co-owner of the martial arts and dance gym where ‘Alegria' is employed adds. He currently has female instructors for his breakdance, capoeira and self defense classes, “People can look for reasons all they want, but it's not about any factor except skills and a desire to improve. Look at Miki for example.”

The Miki in question is an eighth of the most successful Japanese breakdance team in Japan's history. Most people have seen her performances without being aware of it as she has appeared in everything from USJ attractions to fashion shows. I am invited to a B-girl showcase where the members of her all-female break- dance class are performing. In a darkened club I watch enthralled as the featured dancers flip, spin and dance to a distorted funk song. I have an opportunity to interview a dancer the team that performed before them. She is confused when I ask her questions about why she dances, answering simply, “Because it gives me a good feeling.”

I finally have an opportunity to interview Miki a week later in a tiny dressing room where she is stretching in preparation for her fifth international breakdancing competition. All around her men are flipping and spinning, but she remains calm and focused. Even in the room the roar of the crowd can be heard. The energy is incredible and I notice that Miki's eyes are focusing on the task she has to do. I try asking her a series of complicated questions, but her focus is clearly on the task at hand. Her motivation simply explained as a “desire to be the best at something.”

Ultimately that desire may be the only common link between the interviewees. All of my expected criteria (Careers, marital status, and age), offer no connections. The only theme seems to be a passion to compete in their sport at the highest level regardless of what social or physical barriers have to be overcome. Perhaps this is summarized best by Miki as she answers my final question before going on stage, “I don't feel anything [about competing in a male-dominated sport]; I feel women can be just as good …”

Text: Matthew Coslett • Images: KS