The Last Samurai Women

For many people warrior women seem to exist only in the world of exaggerated fiction, myth or summer movies. However, in many ancient cultures, they were real historic figures.

The Last Samurai Woman is a very brief introduction to a real human being who was an accomplished warrior and leader.

Abandon all thoughts of women suddenly taking up arms to face a dire situation. Nakano Takeko and her female comrades (they are later known as the Joshigun/Joushitai) of Aizu had studied martial arts SERIOUSLY PRIOR to the time their homeland was invaded in 1868 by Imperial troops during the Boshin War.

"Aizu's women warriors...received in-depth combat driling, particularly in the use of the halberd. Educated to be equally skilled in the 'ways of the pen and sword', they were also indoctrinated with the belief that their duty was first to protect their domain and lord, and then their families" (Wright 402)

Furthermore, this extraordinary group of women saw themselves as retainers to Teruhime (Princess Matsudaira Teru of Aizu) who was the adoptive sister of the domain's daimyo (lord) Matsudaira Katamori. You may learn more about her here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsudaira_Teru

These women were raised under strict patriarchal Confucian ideals therefore it would be a mistake to view them as feminists (although I'm sure they would appreciate some accomplishments made by modern feminists), when their first priority was to defend their home. I would like to add that some of the warrior women who did survive the entered the field of women's education during the Meiji Era.

Aizu was certainly not the only domain which trained women in the samurai social class to fight. Satsuma women fought alongside their male kin the Seinan War (Satsuma Rebellion) in 1876-1877. In the case of the Seinan War, the Satsuma domain had an offensive stance when it marched on Tokyo (after initially shifting its aim from Kyoto in search of the emperor) under the leadership of Saigo Takamori. That war was fictionalized and shown in the Tom Cruise film THE LAST SAMURAI (which interestingly failed to portray Satsuma samurai women)! Thus, like male samurai, their female counterparts take offensive and defensive actions based on the policy of their respective homes (domains).

Please try to find this excellent article to learn the full story:

Wright, Diana E. "Female Combatants and Japan's Meiji Restoration: the case of Aizu" War in History 2001 v. 8 (4) pages 396-417

or visit
http://www.shinsengumihq.com/WB.htm
(no spaces)

A related video is:
Byakkotai Tribute
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1IIo4o3beo

I apologize for not creating a slide to mention the music credits so I'd like to mention here:
The Last Samurai [ENHANCED] [SOUNDTRACK]
Hans Zimmer (which can be purchased online)

The biography will be completed by the scholar mentioned in the short video.

Technical notes:
I only had 4 hours to spend on this project so it is not as good as I'd like it to be.
I used windows movie maker and adobe photoshop.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• samurai
• woman
• warrior
• katana
• naginata
• aizu
• fukushima
• wakamatsu
• boshin
• war

[nathanielpritish]

OK THEN ayasofya are serious? thts one stupid statement to make considering tht only 3,500 ppl died in the Boshin war and abt 300,000 died in just in the hiroshima and nagasaki bombing, forget abt the rest of the war. so maybe u should reconsider which war to actually remember cause tht sounds very naive and ignorant .

[secretarytocapt3]

N.Pritish the exact number of people who died during Boshin is not exact.

The reason why Aya. wrote that is due to regional memory of Boshin. If you pay attention, Ayasofya said he/she LIVES in Aizu which still to this day bares the scars of Boshin.

N. if you know US history, reflect that---people near major Civil War landmarks feel the same way especially if their ancestors fought + died in that war.

N, understand that history is about remember all wars and their causes.

[secretarytocapt3]

N. aside the fact that the *importance of history is not based on the number dead. It's about repercussions of the event.

For instance to understand Seinan War, comprehend Boshin. To understand WW2 you better pay attention to how the *victors of Boshin laid a groundwork for WW2 and even their descendents lead their country into that conflict.

[decebal01]

"a life in training. 1000 sword strokes every day."

born to fight.

[secretarytocapt3]

dear decebal01, yes actually Nakano Takeko especially was raised that way. Her training did not start due to the war. Also there are other texts regarding the number of sword strokes other martial arts practitioners make in the morning. Pretty remarkable. Well, I'm a pacifist myself, but I wanted to show people that historically there were in fact real warrior women.

[haanhasa]

i want ask if anyone know these historical incidents and peoples meny different stories often portrayed in mangas,movies stc but what comes to saigo takamori whom the the story of last samurai(tom cruise movie) was also based there name was changed to katsumoto and when portrayed as saigo like in mangas i newer seen hes fase or nothing portrayed only woise why

[secretarytocapt3]

Well the Tom Cruise Movie LAST SAMURAI had fictional elements. Therefore, it was fair for them to change the name to "Katsumoto". The real Saigo Takamori was *different.

[Tomi852]

She was 21 when she died... She would have deserved to live a long peaceful life

[silentblade007]

I visited her grave while in Japan, it was a very awesome feeling. Learned a lot, nice vid, and good work!

[xXKonohasNinjaXx]

not only that, Japanese women had the guts to go to war... study a bit more and then comment you Lame loser...

[xXKonohasNinjaXx]

Japan was not misoginistic you idiot!!!

[TakedaWarrior]

Lol so that makes u an expert? i saw ignorant ppl towards theyr culture all over the world....making such an affirmation to me seems insulting!Why the fuk ure the only one i see writing about "misoginistic ancient japan"!If u don t see the japanese woman is a very important part ure blind as a bat! Women could be samurai...they maintained the house affairs, they were cultivated if we re talking about aristocracy here and so on! where the fuk u see misoginism in that?

[TheLamelyNamed]

I live in Taiwan, My Japanese grandmother lives in Okinawa, my mother is Japanese-Taiwanese.

I visit my grandmother every year since I was 4.

Wanna argue with me? Go ahead. I know more Japanese history than you weaboos.

[TakedaWarrior]

I think u got it all wrong....japanese women were higly apreciated and respected...thats why they would handle the affairs of the household even today! Arab women mabe were ill treated but japanese women? lol ....just cause they were expected to be good daughters mothers etc? U call that misoginistic?More misoginistic is the world u live in right now than the time u speak of so get a clear view of things before posting!

[TheLamelyNamed]

It is rare to find female warrior in misogynistic ancient Japan. Which is why it is very interesting and revered by both Japanese and Foreigners.

But if you go to Russia, you'll find loads of female soldiers, pilot and even high ranking officers. This is before and up to WW2, NOT AFTER.

They have a whole company of female sniper and dozens of fighter plane squadrons. They have it worst than most male fighters because they will be raped, tortured and executed upon capture by the enemies.

[dreamymeown]

She's in Byyakotai that Yamapi starred in. Her name in there is sayako.

[Stumperx]

Very interesting video.

[Japanese3091]

this was interesting......I had no idea thanx for making the video!

[pinkilehniously]

wow i didn't know about Nakano Takeko. Thanks for posting this! ^^