14 - Journal from Japan by Marie Stopes

This captivating podcast reveals the journal entries of Marie Stopes, a trailblazer in both science and social activism. As a renowned palaeobotanist, her studies led her deep into Japans coal mines. Simultaneously, she sparked controversial discussions with her radical views on love-based marriages, womens rights, and birth control. The narrative takes us through her adventures in Japan, her scandalous relationship with botanist Fujii Kenjiro, and her interactions with the vibrant diplomatic community of Tokyo. Back in England, she founded the countrys first birth-control clinic, promoting a philosophy of family planning devoid of abortion. Historically, Stopes remains an ambiguous figure, her beliefs occasionally veering towards contentious ideas like eugenics and race purification. Yet, her anti-fascist stance in her later years is unquestionable. The podcast chronicles her time in Japan from August 6, 1907, to January 24, 1909, showcasing her keen scientific observations and her deep appreciation for the threatened beauty of Japanese culture during industrialization.