battle of aizu, boshin war, female samurai, feudal japan, genpei war, japanese history, kawahara asako, martial arts, onna-bugeisha, tomoe gozen, warrior caste, yamamoto yaeko

The Legend of the Female Samurai: How Much of It Is True?

The legend of the female samurai challenges many longstanding beliefs about feudal Japan. Contrary to the notion that only men were permitted to wield samurai swords, female warriors played a crucial role in the tumultuous era. These women didn’t just stand out; they left an indelible mark on history with their prowess and bravery. The ...

Mike West

Woodblock print of the Battle of Aizu showing female warriors fighting alongside men.

A Brief History of Japan’s Female Samurai

In a number of Hollywood offerings, you have seen the fearsome Japanese Samurai warriors and their astonishing warfare skills. While a lot of people, especially in the Western nations, think of samurai warriors as only male, the truth is female samurai warriors did exist. In fact, the women warriors in the Samurai clan were as ...

Emma Lu

An actress or a geisha posing as Nakano Takeko, the famous female samurai warrior (Onna-musha) of the Aizu Domain.