The Society of Japanese Women Scientists

1. History and Aim of the Society

The Society of Japanese Women Scientists, established in April 1958, was formed to encourage mutual support and friendship among Japanese women scientists, a community which was small and lacked unity at that time.

In addition, the Society aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge in various fields of academic research.

From the beginning, the Society has sought to contribute to world peace.

A factor which prompted the foundation of the Society was the encouragement, received from the Committee of Seven to Appeal for World Peace, which consisted of seven famous Japanese scientists including Professor H. Yukawa, a Nobel Laureate in 1949, to send delegates of Japanese women scientists to the 4th World Women's Conference held in Vienna in 1958. Among the members of the Committee, Mrs.R.Hiratsuka, the President of the Federation of Japanese Women's Organizations and the Vice President of the Women's International Democratic Federation, earnestly believed that Japanese women scientists have a special duty to contribute to world peace, particularly the abolition of nuclear weapons.

In 1964, the International Conference of Women Scientists and Engineers(ICWES) was organized in New York City, and since its first conference representatives of the Society have participated.

2. Activities of the Society

The Society holds regular meetings, public lectures, and symposia every year. The Society regularly publishes a Japanese newsletter twice a year. Our New Year’s party is held in January.

The Journal of the Society of Japanese Women Scientists (written in English or Japanese) is published once a year. In addition to SJWS members, non-members also can submit scientific review or original papers. ［Journal of SJWS Editorial Office: Sumiko Hamanaka, Md, PhD.

Laboratory for Molecular Membrane Neuroscience, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako-shi, Saitama, 351-0198 Japan.

3. The SJWS Promising Scientific Award

Since 1996, an award has been granted annually to honor a few women scientists for their outstanding achievements in science.

4. The SJWS Merit Award

Since 1996, an open merit award has been granted annually to honor a few people whose outstanding service has been to science or the promotion of women scientists or to the development of society.

5. Membership Application

To become a member, a candidate should be a regular member of any scientific society, or be recommended by two members of the Society. An application form can be obtained from the central office of the SJWS. The renewable annual subscription fee is 4,000 yen (2,000 yen for students). Applicants can transfer the necessary amount to our a/c number, No. 00140-396414.

6. SJWS Branch Office

Tohoku: Dr. Reiko FUJITA

Tokai: Dr. Tomoko GOTO

Kansai: Dr. Yukiko KUNUGI

Kyushu: Dr. Hatsumi TANIGUCHI

7. LINK

Associ. Women In Science and Engineering(AWiSE)

Ministry of Education,Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Prime Minister's Office,affirmative action

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Japanese Women Engineers Forum

The Central Office of the Society of Japanese Women Scientists

President: Prof. Dr. Tamiko Ohkura,Institute of Advanced Medical Rescarce,School of Medicine,Keio University, Institute of Environmental Science for Human Life, Ochanomizu University,
203-13-15 Daikyocho,Shinjuku-ku,Tokyo 160-0015, Japan
TEL/FAX: +81-3-6802-6708
E-mail: sjws@sjws.jp