Satoko Yamaguchi studied at Japan Biblical Theological Seminary (Tokyo) in her youth. Later, she specifically studied Feminist Theology at Women’s Theological Center (Boston), Harvard Divinity School (Cambridge), and Episcopal Divinity School (Cambridge) from where she obtained her Doctor of Ministry in 1996. Her dissertation received a Bible & Archeology prize.
After graduation, she worked as a resident-theologian at Stony Point Center (New York), and taught as a lecturer at New York Theological Seminary (New York), and at Newark School of Theology (Newark).
Upon returning to Tokyo, Japan, she started teaching at seminaries and universities as adjunct professor which include Japan Biblical Theological Seminary, Central Theological College, Keisen Women’s University, and University of Sacred Heart.
While living in the US, she participated in a shelter-network project as a volunteer worker at a women’s shelter Renewal House (Boston), also at church-based projects of food & shelter for the homeless and the aged (Boston). Upon returning to Japan, co-founded Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan (Tokyo), and has been serving as a co-director. She also co-founded Feminist Theology Circle (Tokyo).
Satoko approaches theology basically from a critical feminist and postcolonial perspective. In this FTC course she intends to introduce feminist theologies by reading and discussing together some of the English biblical and theological articles she has published. She wants to look at participants deepen their understanding of feminist theological thought through a radical democratic learning practice (which is articulated in Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza’s recent book, Democratizing Biblical Studies: Toward an Emancipatory Educational Space, Louisville: WJK, 2009).
Satoko’s publication include the following:
Translation (from English to Japanese; mention books only)
Chen, In Tan. Violence Against Women Is a Crime: Your Rights and Shelter Information (1989, Boston: Renewal House).
Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. In Memory of Her: A Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Christian Origins (1990, Tokyo: UCCJ Publication).
Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. Bread Not Stone: The Challenge of Feminist Biblical Interpretation (1992, Tokyo: Shinkyo).
Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth ed. Searching the Scriptures vol.2 (co-translator & co-overseer, 2002, Tokyo: UCCJ Publication).
Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. The Open House of Wisdom (a collections of lectures in Japan; co-translator & overseer, 2005, Tokyo: Shinkyo).
Books (mention non-Japanese books only)
Women Moving Mountains: Feminist Theology in Japan（co-authoring, 2000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Asian Women’s Resource Centre for Culture and Theology).
Mary and Martha: Women in the World of Jesus (2002, Maryknoll: Orbis; earned “2003 Book Award” from Catholic Press Association in Canada and the US).
Selected Articles (mention non-Japanese articles only)
“Introduction” (Japanese Women Today, 1985, Tokyo: The Women’s Action Group).
“Japanese Language, Culture, and Feminist Liberation Theology” (In God’s Image 10/4. 1991, Seoul: Asian Women’s Resource Center).
“A Pseudoepigraphic Letter of a Woman Leader at Corinth” (In God’s Image 10/4. 1991).
“The Impact of National Histories on the Politics of Identity” (Journal of Asian and Asian American Theology 2/1. 1997).
“Original Christian Messages and Our Christian Identities” (In God’s Image 16/4. 1997).
“The Invention of Traditions: The Case of Shintoism” (In God’s Image 18/4. 1998).
“Reading the Creation Stories from a Feminist Perspective (Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan English Newsletter #2. 2000).
“Questioning ‘God the Father’: Divine Metaphors in the Biblical Context: the Christian Testament” (Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan English Newsletter #4. 2001).
“Die Realität der Frau in sich verändernden politischen Situationen und Gender Studies: Der Fall Japan” (Gender in Wissenshaft und Alltag 2002. Kogens ed., Dresden: Kogens & ehs. 251-53).
“Psalm 93: The Gracious and Compassionate (Du Güte und Mitgefühl)” (Psalmen Leben. Bärbel Fünfsinn & Carola Kenel eds., 2002, Hamburg: EB-Verlag. 184-89).
“Christianity and Women in Japan” (Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 30/3-4, 2003, Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture. 315-338)
“Father Image of G*d and Inclusive Language: A Reflection in Japan” (Towards A New Heaven and A New Earth: Essays in Honor of Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza (Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza Festschrift. 2003, New York: Orbis, 199-224).
“Women Clergy In the Past, Present, and Future: Meeting Martha for the First Time: the Johannine Gospel 11:1-12:11” (Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan English Newsletter #16. 2004).
“‘I Am’ Sayings and Women in Context” (Feminist Companion to the New Testament: the Johannine Literature. 2004, A. J. Levine et al eds., Sheffield: Sheffield, 34-63).
“Response to Dr. J’annine Jobling’s Review on Mary & Martha” (Conversations in Religion and Theology. 2/2, 2004, 117-129).
“Christian Feminist Theology in Japan” (Breaking Silence: Theology from Asian Women. 2006, Meehyun Chung ed., India:ISPCK).
“CCA’s 50th Celebration Opening Worship Sermon (Acts 9:36-43)” (Japan Christian Activity News, 2007, Tokyo, as well as at HP of CCA).
“Das Schweigen brechen” (Theologie im Gesprach mit Frauen aus Ostasien 2, EMS Dokumentations Brief, 2007).
“Re-Membering Jesus: A Postcolonial Feminist Remembering” (Post-Christian Feminisms: A Critical Approach. 2007, Lisa Isherwood & Kathleen McPhillips eds., Plymouth: Ashgate).
“From Dualistic Thinking toward Inclusive Imagination: SABS Keynote Speech 2” (Mapping and Engaging the Bible in Asian Cultures. 2008 Seoul Conference, 2009, Seoul: Society of Asian Biblical Studies).
“Deine Worte” (Cerechtigkeit and Heilung, Vernetzte Wirklichkeiten, Eine interdisziplinare Festschrift fur Ursula Riedel-Pfafflin, 2008, Adelheid Fiedler & Kristina Wopat eds., Dresden: Winterwork)
“Sexual Diversity and Feminist Perspectives: Dreaming Justice in Sexuality and Life: Re-reading of Romans 1:26-27” (Center for Feminist Theology and Ministry in Japan English Newsletter #34. 2009).
“Esther’s ‘Bad Woman’ and Us (Esther 1:1-22)” (In God’s Image 28/4. 2009).
