Tomoe Gozen & Nakano Takeko
Tomoe Gozen
Tomoe Gozen is known to be one of the most famous female samurai warrior in Japanese history. She was known as a skillful warrior who goes into battles like a man. She was one of Minamoto Yoshinaka’s senior captains and in secret she may have also been his wife. She was one of his top commanders and led men into battle. Tomoe’s physical features were described a beautiful woman with smooth white skin, long hair, and other attractive features.
During this time, women who were in battle learned how to be skilled in using a naginata or a long spear with a sharp curved end in order to protect themselves, their children, and homes from thieves and raiders. Tomoe was skilled in the naginata, bow and sword. She was also known to be an amazing horsewoman, and chose to be apart of very dangerous missions because of her skills.
Yoshinaka ordered her to flee as his forces were overwhelmed in battle by Minamoto Yoritomo’s forces and he knew that he would face being captured and killed.
She was a samurai during the Genpel War which was in years of 1180-1185.
The fate of Tomoe Gozen was uncertain but historians said that she was seen fleeing with the head of an enemy samurai. They also said that she was defeated by Wada Yoshimori and became his wife. After his death she become a nun in Echizen.
Nakano Takeko
Another famous woman during this period, Nakano Takeko was also highly skilled in the long spear. She defended the Wakamatsu Castle and was also a samurai of Aizu clan. Aizu clan were heavy supporters of the shogunates and the battle with the imperial forces ended up restoring Japan and completed eliminated the samurai class.
Nakano Takeko fought by charging into the enemy lines, and she cut down many men, however unfortunately she was shot in the chest. Her sister Yuko removed Takeko’s head which was something that they previously agreed on beforehand if anything was to happen to her. Yuko took the head home so that she would be appropriately honored. There is a monument that has been erected in her honor at the temple Aizu Bangemachi in the Fukishima province of Japan.
Takeko was born 1847 and died in 1868.It was noted that she died during Bohin War. She was born in Edo which was the former capital of Japan. She was the daughter of Nakano Heinai who was known as a Aizu official. Takeko was trained in martial arts and literary arts. Her teacher Akaoko Daisuke adopted Takeko. Takeko later worked with her adoptive father as a martial arts instructor during the 1860s.
She entered Aizu during the Battle of Aizu and fought with a naginata and was the leader of a Women’s Army which consisted of female combatants who independently fought in the battle. The senior Aizu leader did not allow them to fight as a part of the army.
In the town there is annual Aizu Autumn Festival, where a group of young girls wear hakama and white headbands in the procession, which commemorates the actions of Nakano and the Women’s Army of the Joshigun.
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