"Too beautiful to be a scientist": Hokkaido University's first female student, Setsi Kato

Over 100 years ago, in the 7th year of the Taisho era (1918).
The first female student enrolled at Hokkaido University.
Her name was "Setsi Kato".

When Setsi applied for admission, she was told something to the effect of,
"You are too beautiful to be a scientist."
.

"A beautiful woman will never achieve greatness because she is surrounded by too much noise involving men."

This is what the first female professional Go player was told during her training days, in a world that was once exclusively male.
She was told that unless she forgot about men, makeup, and dressing up, she wouldn't make it.
There was a similar anecdote about the women's volleyball team, the "Oriental Witches."

Setsi was told the same thing.

Hokkaido University initially turned Setsi away at the door.

However, if you think that made Setsi give up in despair, you would be wrong.
She brilliantly became the first female student and later went on to have a successful career as a prominent chemist.

Now, when I keep writing about her beauty, you might be wondering if it's true.

This is a photo of her around the age of 40.

I certainly think she was a beauty.

It is objectively confirmed, as there are pre-war books that describe her not only in anecdotes at Hokkaido University but also as a "very beautiful person" and "possessor of great beauty."

In particular, her "eyes" seem to have left a strong impression on many people.

"Her eyes were always large.
They were filled with a brilliant light.
They were intellectual eyes.
They were eyes capable of Wissenschaft (science/scholarship)."

"Eyes that were stern, yet filled with compassion."

"Sharp-eyed and sharp-witted."

Setsi was a darling of the media before the war.

Gravure photos of her remain in magazines.

However, most of them show her with a frail expression, like a woman drawn by Yumeji Takehisa.
Her eyes also look somewhat weak.

She was forced into the mold of a stereotypical beauty.

Editors probably chose those photos intentionally.

In that regard, there are several private photos where you think, "I see, these are the eyes."
These are likely her true self, free from bias.

This photo was taken when she was in her late 40s.

"Eyes that are stern yet filled with compassion"—these are the words of one of Setsi's students, and
it is a picture that makes you think, "Indeed."

The photo that left the deepest impression on me is this one.

It was taken when she was an elderly woman of 72, but her eyes are deep and intimidating.

The impression from this photo caused my curiosity about Setsi to skyrocket.

Before I knew it, I had collected over 1,000 documents,
and my writing had exceeded 200,000 characters.


Last year, I published

"Setsi Kato and Women Scientists"from Tamagawa University Press,a children's book aimed at upper elementary to junior high school students.

Furthermore, I am currently writing a biographical story for adults titled
"Too beautiful to be a scientist."

Publication for this one is not yet decided.

Below is the work's website.

(I had published the opening, but it is currently private.
Related information is still posted.)

Being a "beauty" is not synonymous with simply having a beautiful face.

The image of a beauty reflected in the mind is layered with the story that person carries.

In Usagi Nakamura's book,
"What is a Beauty?"
that is what is written.

For example, even if someone is described as a "too beautiful athlete,"
their actual appearance may not compare to a celebrity.

However, to those who know the top-tier records she has set
and the drama surrounding them,
she undoubtedly looks like a "beauty."

Setsi Kato, the first female student at Hokkaido University, who was celebrated as a beauty.

This time, I have written only about the impression of her appearance.

But was she really called a beauty just for that?

What kind of "story" did she wear?

From now on, about once a week,
I would like to introduce her
as a light column or essay
that you can read easily while having a cup of tea.

Hokkaido University, where I studied
40 years ago,
this year, 2026,
marks its 150th anniversary
counting from the Sapporo Agricultural College.

In my own small way,
I hope to add
a single flower
to this series.

(The photos in this article have been colorized using AI.)