Kusumoto Ine

Kusumoto Ine

Name	Kusumoto Ine
Birth name
Birth date	1827
Birth place	Nagasaki, Japan
Death date	1903
Death place	Tokyo, Japan
Alma mater
Occupation	Physician
Years active
Organization
Known for	First female doctor of Western medicine in Japan
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Kusumoto Ine (楠本 イネ, 1827–1903) was a pioneering Japanese physician who is recognized as the first woman to practice Western medicine in Japan. Her life and career were marked by her groundbreaking achievements in a male-dominated field and her contributions to the introduction of Western medical practices in Japan.

Early Life

Kusumoto Ine was born in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1827. She was the daughter of Kusumoto Takako, a Japanese woman, and Philipp Franz von Siebold, a German physician and botanist who was working in Japan at the time. Her mixed heritage and her father's influence played a significant role in her education and career.

Education

Ine's education in medicine began under the tutelage of her father, von Siebold, who was a prominent figure in the introduction of Western science and medicine to Japan. She learned about Western medical practices and techniques, which were largely unknown in Japan at the time due to the country's isolationist policies under the Edo period's sakoku policy.

Medical Career

In 1851, Kusumoto Ine became the first woman in Japan to practice Western medicine. She specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, fields that were particularly challenging for women to enter during that era. Her practice was based in Nagasaki, where she served both Japanese and foreign patients.

Ine's work was instrumental in the gradual acceptance of Western medical practices in Japan. She was known for her skill and dedication, and she trained other women in medicine, helping to pave the way for future generations of female physicians in Japan.

Legacy

Kusumoto Ine's legacy is significant in the history of Japanese medicine. She broke gender barriers and contributed to the modernization of medical practices in Japan. Her life and work are celebrated as a symbol of perseverance and progress in the face of societal challenges.

Also see

• Philipp Franz von Siebold
• Western medicine in Japan
• Women in medicine
• History of medicine in Japan