Whenever I think of samurais, my mind immediately goes to Tom Cruise’s “The Last Samurai”—admittedly a cheesy gateway, but it was my first take of a Japanese culture as a child. Some days ago I watched a podcast by Joe Rogan, where he talked about his fascination with Musashi Miyamoto. He even had it tattooed in his arm, so that kind of put me to dig deeper into the world of samurai. It got me questioning: were samurais only men, or did women share this title too?
So today, I thought to venture into the lesser-known realm of Japan’s female samurais. They are called Onna-musha (女武者) and were female warriors in ancient Japan. They fought alongside samurai men, belonged to the warrior class, and were trained in weapons to defend their homes, families, and honor during wars.
Tomoe Gozen:
Tomoe Gozen, often celebrated in Noh and Kabuki theater, is a renowned female warrior who served as a concubine to Yoshinaka Kiso, a military leader during the Heian period's twilight. Noted for her martial prowess and striking beauty, described as fair-skinned and long-haired, she was formidable on the battlefield. Adorned in splendid armor, she skillfully used a bow and arrow, and on horseback, wielded a naginata (*Is a weapon from wooden or metal pole with a curved single-edged blade on the end) to cut through her enemies.
Her legendary exploits are captured in "The Last Kiso" from The Tale of the Heike. Following Yoshinaka's defeat at the Battle of Ujigawa, with only a handful of soldiers left, he urged Tomoe to flee for her safety. Refusing initially, she ultimately conceded, marking her final act of service. She engaged Uchida Saburo Ieyoshi, a noted enemy general, in a dramatic mounted duel. Excelling in close combat, Tomoe overpowered Uchida, ultimately taking his head with astonishing strength, a testament to her legendary might.
Ueno Tsuruhime:
As the Sengoku period ended around 1615, Tsuneyama Castle, built by the Ueno clan and allies of the Mimura clan, was besieged by the Mori clan. With fewer than 100 soldiers left, the Mimura's last stronghold was about to fall.
As defeat approached and escape was impossible, Lord Takanori Ueno and his family decided to end their lives. At their final banquet, Tsuruhime, Takanori’s wife and a skilled warrior, put on her armor and urged the maids to fight instead of giving up. Inspired, over 30 women put on armor, forming an impromptu battalion.
This sudden counterattack momentarily threw the Mori forces into chaos, caught off-guard by the ferocity and resolve of their female adversaries. Despite their bravery, the women warriors were ultimately overwhelmed. Tsuruhime, leading the charge, retreated to the castle to join her family in death.
Today, the graves of these valiant women at Tsuneyama Castle's ruins commemorate their last stand, remembered as the "Battle of the Tsuneyama Women's Army."
Besshiki Ona
During the Edo period, samurai women were trained in martial arts to defend their families, especially if the male head was absent or deceased. They practiced with weapons like the naginata for self-defense and revenge.
Feudal lords' mansions had protected inner areas, guarded by women known as Besshiki Onna. These women, bearing titles like kentaiyaku and katanamochi * (Roles associated with the samurai class in feudal Japan), carried swords and were responsible for security and teaching swordsmanship to other women in samurai families.
They were recognizable by their distinctive dress and shaved eyebrows. A legend tells of a Besshiki Onna who, after losing a vital letter during an assault, honored her duty by committing seppuku (suicide).
These women symbolize the valor and dedication of female warriors in samurai culture.
Koto Nakazawa
Koto Nakazawa, a notable female samurai from the late Edo period, was an expert in Hoshin-ryu swordsmanship, skilled with long swords and kusarigama. Standing tall at about 170cm, she was distinctive for her era.
Recruited in the Bunkyu era(1861-1864) to guard the 14th Shogun Iemochi to Kyoto, she disguised herself as a man, serving with those who would later form the Shinsengumi. Koto's male disguise drew attention from women, and her true appearance from men.
She later joined the Shincho-gumi, playing a significant role in the Boshin War. Post-war, back home, Koto faced many suitors but vowed only to marry a man who could defeat her in battle. None succeeded, and Koto remained unmarried, remembered for her unmatched skill and strength.
References:
Musashi Miyamoto: The Best Samurai in Japan. Visit Kyushu. https://www.visit-kyushu.com/en/blogs/musashi-miyamoto-best-samurai-japan/
"宮本武蔵とは？ 日本一の剣士の生涯と逸話" https://tate-school.com/archives/992](https://tate-school.com/archives/992
