Yoshi Kasuya 1923

Dr. Yoshi Kasuya attended Wellesley College from 1919-1923. She later went on to get a MA in 1930 and a PhD in 1933 with Columbia's Teacher's College about comparative education using data and insights drawn from practices and situations in another country to examine the education of one country. 

Kasuya stated in a personal letter that Wellesley kept her stimulated, and taught her how to learn. She expressed particular gratitude in that it helped her maintain strength during the Great Earthquake of 1923, especially because she had arrived back in Japan a mere week after the devastation.

Other Institutions Attended: Columbia University (Teacher's College)

After Wellesley...

• Received PhD from Columbia University in Comparative Education

• Teacher, and later on President of Tsuda College in Japan (retired in '62). Known for helping Tsuda maintain its difficulty status during and after the war. She worked for the elevation of women’s status in the education field, and spoke on guiding boy-girl relationships

• Wellesley's Class of 1923 donated in her honor to Tsuda College Wellesley's “carol” chairs, which students can rent to work and put their books. These are no longer at Tsuda. 

• Elected president of Japanese Association of University Women

• President of Tsuda Eigo Kai (English language conversation school)

• Taught for eight years at Utsunomiya Sakushin Junior College

• Blue Ribbon Medal awarded by government in November 1960 for services to education

• Awarded The Third Class of the Order of the Precious Crown in 1966 by the Emperor of Japan for her contribution to women’s education

• Nominated for Achievements and Awards at Wellesley College for education, administration, and teaching

Suggested Readings

• Reflections on her college years edited/published 1974

• "Yoshi Kasuya '23" by Esther Crane