News & Events

On June 10, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, the spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland , visited Surugadai Campus.

This visit to the University was conducted in conjunction with the Finnish Presidential couple’s visit to Japan. Mrs. Innes-Stubb once worked as an assistant language teacher (ALT) at junior and senior high schools in Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture. The day before her visit to the University, she visited one of the high schools where she once taught classes and deepened her exchanges with the students.

Mrs. Innes-Stubb is also a lawyer herself. The visit to Meiji University was prompted by the interest of the Embassy of Finland in Tokyo as it is the first university in Japan to provide an opportunity for women to study law at the level of higher education. It is the alma mater of Mrs. MIBUCHI Yoshiko, the inspiration for the main character in the NHK TV series “Tora ni Tsubasa (Making the strong even stronger)” broadcast during the first half of 2024, which legal research was conducted by MURAKAMI Kazuhiro, a Professor of the School of Law and Director, Center for the History of Meiji University.

YANAGIYA Takashi, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Meiji University greeted the group as follows: “Meiji University, which produced Japan’s first three female legal professionals in 1940, is a pioneer of the institute for training female legal professionals. I hope you will enjoy the interaction with members of MURAKAMI Seminar.” UENO Masao, the President of Meiji University and a Professor of the School of Law, gave the following words of welcome to Mrs. Innes-Stubb, who teaches at a Finnish university: “I used to work as a judge. I am honored to meet you as a fellow legal scholar.”


The group then took part in a class at the MURAKAMI Seminar. Through Professor MURAKAMI’s lecture, they learned about the history of female legal professionals in Japan. In the Seminar, Mrs. Innes-Stubb asked the students, “What are your thoughts on your future career?” Each student listed a variety of career options, such as going to graduate school, becoming a lawyer, an accountant, being in charge of corporate legal affairs, working for the local city hall, or being a police officer.
Mrs. Innes-Stubb gave the following comment to encourage the students: “I have worked in government and corporate legal departments. Knowledge of law is always useful in any field.” At the end of the group’s visit, Director MURAKAMI presented Mrs. Innes-Stubb with a stuffed Meijiro in a judicial robe as a souvenir.