Born: 5 October 1865, Japan
Died: 2 May 1927
Country most active: Japan
Also known as: Kageyama Hideko, 景山 英子, 福田 英子
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Fukuda Hideko, also known as Kageyama Hideko (景山 英子), was a prominent Japanese feminist activist and received a good education. Most of her adult life was devoted to socialist and feminist causes.
She was involved in the Osaka Incident of 1885. Around 130 liberal activists, including Fukuda, were arrested while trying to incite a revolution and support the liberation of Korea. They planned to provide weapons and manpower for reformist movements in Korea but were stopped by the authorities.
Despite facing challenges, Fukuda remained committed to social and gender reform in Japan. She actively participated in the Freedom and People’s Rights Movement, advocating for democratic reforms in the government. She also founded the influential magazine “Sekai Fujin” (Women of the World) to empower Japanese women and involve them in global affairs.
Throughout her life, Fukuda played a vital role in Japanese reform movements, which shifted from expanding citizens’ political rights to broader social and economic changes nationwide.