Kinue Hitomi participated as Japan's only female athlete in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.
On that occasion, she took home the silver medal in the 800m, a category in which she had not even trained. Until she was 24, an early death, she fought for the development of women's athletics in Japan.
Learn this story.
Social context
Kinue Hitomi lived in a period where Taisho Democracy had just emerged. Her biographer, Yoshiko Tanaka, states that this was a period where decisions could be made based on ones opinion's and ideas'.
However, this was also a time where women rarely showed skin or moved their bodies dexterously.
First years
Kinue studied at a good girls' school in Okayama. There she learned tennis and long jump, where she already broke unofficial national records.
The school principal used to say that the idea of “an obedient wife and a pious woman was outdated.”
It was in this context that she had her first desire to become an athlete.
In 1924, she went to the Nikaido Gymnastics School, the precursor to the Japan Women's College of Physical Education, where she had training under Tokuyo Nikaido, who had studied in England.
Before attending school, her father objected saying that the school only valued the body and not the brain. However, her experience in tennis made her believe that she did use her brain when she played sports. So, she decides to go to school despite contradicting her father.
Women's World Games
In 1926 she participated in the Women's World Games in Gothenburg. These games took place because women were not allowed to participate in the Olympics (see last week's #todasextacomelas).
On that occasion she won 1st place in the long jump and high jump, breaking the world record.
Image of Japanese women
Her feat surprised the world. A German reporter wrote: “ Our image of Japanese women is that they are covered in flashy kimonos from neck to toe. They ruin their feet in traditional shoes. They use a lot of powder. Kinue completely changed the way we see Japanese women. She has a great structure like the western ones. Her tanned face is vibrant and lively. ”
Not only was her recognition international, but her achievements were publicized in Japan, which encouraged Japanese girls to take up athletics.
She also faced difficulties. In fact, a publication at the time accused her of being a man.
Amsterdam Olympics
In 1928, she was the only woman in the Japanese delegation.
Despite breaking the world record in the 100m with 12.2 seconds, she lost the semi-finals and came in 4th place. But she thought she could not return to Japan without a medal as she represented all Japanese women.
So she decides to participate in the 800m in which she had never practiced. Before crossing the finish line, everything went black around her and she doesn't remember anything. However, she takes home the silver medal.
Early death
Her fight for the development of female athletics continued and she managed to take 5 more female athletes to the Women's World Games in Prague in 1930. Even without government support, she fought for sponsorship by asking the athletes' schools for donations, arguing that they were representing the school.
Even shortly before dying, weakened, she remained fighting for the cause.
Kinue Hitomi died at the age of 24, three years after winning the Olympic medal, on the same date, August 2, of pleurisy, inflammation of the lungs, but her legacy remains an example for all women who yearned for their space in the world of sport. .