Chieko Utsumi Explained

Chieko Utsumi
Other Names:	Chie Utsumi
Birth Date:	1903
Birth Place:	Japan
Death Date:	after 1976
Occupation:	Educator
Honours:	Fourth Class of the Order of the Precious Crown (1976)

Chie Utsumi (1903 – died after 1976), known as Chieko Utsumi, was a Japanese physical educator, trained at Wellesley College. She was recognized for her contributions to women's physical education in 1976, with a Fourth Class of the Order of the Precious Crown from the emperor of Japan.

Early life and education

Utsumi was born in 1903. Her father was a professor at Meiji University, and the school's basketball coach.^[1] She graduated from Woman's Christian College of Japan, and attended Wellesley College as a special student beginning in 1928, sponsored by the YWCA.^{[2] [3] [4]} She was still at Wellesley in 1930 to assist at Japanese-themed parties given at Wellesley College^[5] and the Cosmopolitan Club,^[6] and in spring 1931, when the Prince Takamatsu visited the school, and she presented a bouquet to Princess Takamatsu.^{[7] [8]} She was awarded a certificate in hygiene and special education from Wellesley in June 1931.^[9]

Career

After returning to Japan in the 1930s, Utsumi taught physical education and was director of the Physical Education and Recreation department at Tokyo Women's Christian University.^[10] She served on committees of the Ministry of Education during the 1940s and 1950s.^{[11] [12]}

In 1950 and 1951, Utsumi and Olympic swim coach Torahiko Miyahata toured and studied women's physical education programs in the United States, including stops in Cleveland, Detroit,^[13] St. Louis,^[14] Iowa City,^[15] and at Stanford University.^[16] In 1951, she published a Japanese translation of the rules of women's basketball, as established by the National Section on Women's Athletics (NSWA), in hopes of popularizing the sport.^[17] She was recognized for her contributions to women's physical education in 1976, with a Fourth Class of the Order of the Precious Crown from the emperor of Japan.

Notes and References

1. 1928-09-22 . Japan . Journal of the American Medical Association . en . 91 . 12 . 895 . 10.1001/jama.1928.02700120051022 . 0002-9955.
2. Web site: Japanese Alumnae Corner: Chieko Utsumi ('28) . 2022-10-31 . Wellesley College . en.
3. News: October 11, 1928 . Seven Foreign Students Pursue Study at Wellesley . 8 . Wellesley College News . October 31, 2022.
4. News: 1928-09-24 . Women in Various Walks of Life Figure in Doings of the Day . 5 . The Standard Union . 2022-10-31 . Newspapers.com.
5. News: April 28, 1930 . Japanese Maidens are Guests Here . The Boston Globe . 4 . Newspapers.com.
6. News: March 13, 1930 . Cosmopolitan Club Meeting . 8 . Wellesley College News . October 31, 2022.
7. News: 1931-04-27 . Royal Pair Entertained at Wellesley College . 9 . The Boston Globe . 2022-10-31 . Newspapers.com.
8. News: April 30, 1931 . Wellesley Greets Royal Visitors . 1 . Wellesley College News . October 31, 2022.
9. News: June 15, 1931 . Wellesley Gives 291 A.B. Degrees . The Boston Globe . 28 . Newspapers.com.
10. Book: Glasscock, Jean . Wellesley College 1875-1975: A Century of Women . Wellesley College . 1975 . 427.
11. Book: Haslett, Jacqueline G. . A History of Physical Education and Sports in Japan from 1868 Through 1972 . 1984 . Boston University . 128–129 . en.
12. News: January 14, 1951 . Dr. Vaughn Seidel Will Play Host to Jap Teachers . Oakland Tribune . 39 . Newspapers.com.
13. News: November 22, 1950 . Japanese Experts Study Sports Here . The Plain Dealer . 13 . Newspapers.com.
14. News: January 4, 1951 . Four Japanese Educators Visiting at Washington U. . St. Louis Post-Dispatch . 25 . Newspapers.com.
15. News: January 9, 1951 . Discuss Japanese Education System . Iowa City Press-Citizen . 8 . Newspapers.com.
16. News: January 19, 1951 . 2 Japanese educators due at Farm . The Peninsula Times Tribune . 14 . Newspapers.com.
17. December 1951 . Japanese Translation of Basketball Rules . Journal of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation . 22 . 48.