Haruko Wakita

was a Japanese academic, editor and expert in medieval Japanese women's history.

Early life Since the age of six, Wakita was interested in Noh drama; and she regularly performs on stage. The insight gained from her lifelong study and practice of this medieval theatrical art informs her historical research.

She was awarded a BA in Japanese history at Kobe University in 1956. Further studies led to an MA in 1960 and a PhD in 1969 from Kyoto University.

She participated in research projects with historians in France, Italy and the United States. Her work with French scholars resulted in a monograph in Japanese. Her work with colleagues at the University of Michigan produced in edited volumes and contributions in English.

日本中世商業発達史の研究 (1969) 室町時代 (1985) 日本女性史 (1987) "Town Festivals: Medieval Towns and Seigniorial Authority in Medieval Japan" (Translated by Dr. James McMullen), STUDIES IN JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, Vo. 1., 2991 日本中世女性史の研究: 性別役割分担と母性・家政・性愛 (1992) ジェンダーの日本史 (1994) 中世に生きる女たち (1995) "Fêtes et communautés urbaines dans le Japon médiéval. La fête de Gion à Kyôto" (Traduit par Pierre-François Souyri), ANNALES 52o ANNÉE-No5, 1997. 中世京都と祗園祭 （1999） Women and class in Japanese history (1999) with Hitomi Tonomura and Anne Walthall Gender and Japanese history (1999) with Anne Bouchy and Chizuko Ueno 女性芸能の源流: 傀儡子・曲舞・白拍子 (2001) Women in medieval Japan : motherhood, household management and sexuality (2006)

Honors Order of Culture