Hikaru Saeki

Hikaru Saeki (佐伯 光, Saeki Hikaru, 3 April 1943 –) is the first female admiral of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the first female in the entire Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) to achieve star rank. Originally an obstetrician-gynecologist with the degree of M.D.,[1] Saeki joined the JMSDF in 1989. After her service in several military hospitals and medical rooms aboard naval vessels, she became the first woman to head a JSDF hospital in 1997, promoted to rear admiral in 2001, and retired in 2003.

Hikaru Saeki
佐伯光
Born (1943-04-03) April 3, 1943
Japan
Nationality Japan
Alma materNippon Medical School
Spouse(s)Seiji Saeki
Military career
Service/branch Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Years of service1989 - 2003
Rank Rear Admiral

Career
JSDF Central Hospital, where Saeki served as a department director when she was promoted to rear admiral in 2001.

A native to the Japanese prefecture of Gunma,[2] Hikaru Saeki was born in 1943. Graduating from the Nippon Medical School in 1969, she worked at the Keio University Hospital (as accoucheur) in Tokyo[3] and the National Defense Medical College in Saitama Prefecture.[2] On April 1989, Saeki enrolled into the JMSDF as a physician, commissioned as commander on August 1990,[4] then captain in March 1992.[5]

On November 1995, Saeki served as the Chief of Division for Research & Laboratory at the Department of Research & Laboratory, JSDF Central Hospital in Tokyo, then Director, Department of Gynaecology at the same hospital. She was assigned to Kyoto on December 1997 to take the post of Director, JSDF Hospital Maizuru.[5] For the first time, Japan had a woman in charge of a JSDF Hospital.[2] On March 1999, Saeki was appointed as the Director of JSDF Hospital Sasebo in Nagasaki, and reassigned back to the JSDF Central Hospital on December 2000, this time as its Director for Department of Rehabilitation Medicine.[5] On 27 March 2001, she was formally promoted to the rank of rear admiral by a personnel promotion announcement of Japan's Defense Agency (now Ministry of Dense),[3] making her the first female flag officer of JSDF since its foundation in 1954.[2] Saeki retired with that rank in 2003.[1]

Annex: Major experience
  • April 1989: Enrolled into the JMSDF
  • November 1995: Chief of Division for Research & Laboratory, JSDF Central Hospital
  • August 1996: Director, Department of Gynaecology, JSDF Central Hospital
  • December 1997: Director, JSDF Hospital Maizuru
  • March 1999: Director, JSDF Hospital Sasebo
  • December 2000: Director, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, JSDF Central Hospital
  • 2003: Retired

Besides serving on several JSDF hospitals and medical rooms aboard JMSDF vessels, Saeki was highly praised for her effort on taking care of lifestyle disease during her career as a JMSDF officer.[3] She also conducted the improvement of child care environment inside the Self-Defense Forces,[1][6] it was under her proposal that the JSDF issued uniforms in the type of maternity dress to pregnant service members.[6]

Marriage

Hikaru Saeki married Seiji Saeki (佐伯聖二), who is also a former admiral in the JMSDF,[2] serving as the Vice Chief of Staff, JMSDF and Commander in Chief, Self Defense Fleet. He retired in 1997 with the rank of vice admiral, and was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon by the Japanese government in 2011.[7] It is a rare case among the world's armed forces for a couple to become both flag officers.[3]

References
  1. 日渐活跃的日本女自卫官们. 读报参考 (in Chinese) (2016年第11期 总755期): 23. 11 April 2016.
  2. 新訂現代日本人名録　2002　かな～せ (in Japanese). 日外アソシエーツ株式会社. 28 January 2002. p. 1118. ISBN 4-8169-1695-4.
  3. 自衛隊初の女性将官が誕生、佐伯光海将補　夫も元海将 (in Japanese). 読売新聞 東京朝刊. 28 March 2001. p. A. 39.
  4. 世界の艦船 (in Japanese) (2001年6月号 通巻583号). 海人社. June 2001: 160. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. 防衛年鑑 (in Japanese). 防衛メディアセンター. 2002. p. 585. ISBN 9784938468231.
  6. 自衛隊の謎検証委員会編 (October 2011). 知られざる自衛隊の謎 (in Japanese). 彩図社. p. 133. ISBN 4883928136.
  7. 春の叙勲　中綬章以上と在外邦人、外国人叙勲の受章者一覧 (in Japanese). 読売新聞 東京朝刊 朝特Ａ. 18 June 2011. p. A. 31.
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