Yoshiko Ohtani

Yoshiko Ohtani (1918 – 2000), born Yoshiko Tokudaiji, often referred to as Lady Ohtani, was a Japanese religious organization leader. She was world federation president of the Buddhist Women's Association from 1959 to 1982.

Early life and education Tokudaiji was the daughter of a nobleman, Saneatsu Tokudaiji, and his wife, Yoneko Matsudaira. She attended Gakushuin Women's College. in the United States and Canada in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. She started all-Japan and world conferences for chapters of the Buddhist Wonen's Association (BWA) or Fujinkai. In 1974, she and her husband attended the 75th anniversary festivities of the Buddhist Churches in America denomination, held in San Francisco. She was succeeded as urakata and as the BWA's honorary president by her daughter-in-law, Noriko Ohtani, after the BWA's 7th world conference in 1982.

She was also president of the Jodo Shinshu Nursery School Federation, and honorary president of several women's colleges and schools.

Personal life Tokudaiji was married to Kosho Ohtani in 1937. He was the first cousin of Emperor Hirohito. Their wedding was reported in Western press including Time magazine and The New York Times. She died in 2000, at the age of 82.