Umeko Tsuda, who is now on the 5,000 yen note, was a pioneer in the field of women’s education during the Meiji Era (1868–1912), when Japanese society was still deeply patriarchal.

When she was just six years old, Umeko was sent to the U.S. as a member of the first group of women to study abroad when she was just six years old in 1871. She studied in the United States for a total of 13 years and when she returned to Japan she ambitiously sought to improve the status and education of Japanese women. Thanks to the generosity of American donors and her own tenacity, Umeko eventually founded a women’s college, Joshi Eigaku Juku (now Tsuda University).

The university specializes in teaching and research in education studies and liberal arts, particularly English.

Umeko Tsuda’s strong personality and her fierce determination to give women an equal footing in Japan has left an indelible mark on Japanese education and society.