During Japan’s Edo period, samurai and commoners, young and old, engaged in domestic math tradition called Wasan. Surprisingly, historical records reveal women and teens tackling difficult problems even before Japan modernized in the late 1800s. A Sangaku at Myōjōrinji temple in Ōgaki donated by “Asano Genjūrō, student of Asano Takamitsu and others” in 1865, shows contributions from a 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. The book “Sanpō shōjo,” published in 1775 by a doctor’s daughter, reveals secrets for calculating pi. Women and children played a significant role in mathematical problem-solving, mingling with samurai, defying gender norms.
https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c12802/