- Several Japanese women’s universities are rethinking admissions to include transgender women, with six currently accepting and others planning to follow by 2029.
- Institutions like Tsuda and Ochanomizu are addressing challenges such as all-gender facilities, dorm access, and student awareness through infrastructure changes and educational programs.
- Debate continues as schools balance tradition, legal constraints, and demographic pressures amid broader societal and legal shifts on gender diversity in Japan.
Some women-only universities in Japan are rethinking long-standing admissions policies as debates over transgender inclusion gain momentum, revealing deep divisions over how to balance tradition with evolving social expectations. A recent survey by Mainichi Shimbun found that six of the country’s women’s universities currently admit transgender women, while another plans to do so by the end of the decade a notable development in a nation where single-gender institutions have historically defined access to higher education.
Among the universities already accepting trans women are two public institutions, Ochanomizu University in Tokyo and Nara Women’s University, alongside four private schools: Japan Women’s University, Tsuda University, Miyagi Gakuin Women’s University, and Notre Dame Seishin University. In July, Fukuoka Women’s University announced that it would begin admitting transgender women from 2029.
Despite these changes, seventeen women’s colleges reported that they do not currently admit transgender students. Some cited practical challenges such as the lack of all-gender or multipurpose restrooms, while others referred to legal criteria tied to Japan’s family registry system, which sometimes restricts admissions to those legally registered as female. A further sixteen universities indicated openness to reconsidering their policies, with five describing themselves as 'seriously considering' a change.
At Tsuda University, one of the earliest adopters of transgender inclusion, President Yuko Takahashi said the decision followed years of careful internal discussion rather than a sudden policy shift. “We value the significance of women’s colleges even in the 21st century in Japan, because we still face a very serious gender gap”, she told Times Higher Education. She added that institutions must also recognise “a lot of diverse women” and respect their gender identities. Takahashi acknowledged concerns among current students, particularly around shared facilities and residence halls.
To address these challenges, Tsuda University has increased the number of all-gender toilets on campus and offers financial support for transgender students to live off-campus, although dormitory access is not yet permitted. The university has also invited transgender speakers and hosted lecture series to foster understanding among the wider student body.
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Some students support the changes. A fourth-year undergraduate, speaking anonymously, said admitting transgender women does not undermine the mission of women’s universities. They explained, “Including transgender women is not about taking something away, but about expanding who can feel safe and supported as a woman in an academic space, adding that much of the anxiety around privacy and safety stems from a lack of knowledge rather than rejection”.
Experts say the debate is unfolding against a backdrop of recent legal and political developments, including a 2023 law requiring institutions to promote greater understanding of LGBT people and protect them from discrimination. Akiyoshi Yonezawa, a professor at Tohoku University’s Global Strategy Office, noted that demographic pressures and societal changes are prompting some women’s universities to update policies, though smaller institutions often lack the resources to act quickly. He added that issues such as residence halls and bathroom access also affect co-educational universities.
The gradual shift toward transgender inclusion at Japan’s women’s universities mirrors broader discussions on gender diversity and educational access, even as national legal rulings including a recent decision upholding Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage underscore the complex landscape of sexual minority rights in the country.
