Not many onna bugeisha (female warriors) is were recorded but one outstanding figure is NAKANO TAKEKO, the leader of an ad-hoc female warrior group, Joshitai. 

 

Nakano Takeko (1847-1868) was born into a powerful samurai family. She was well-educated and trained in martial arts. Her role began when the Boshin War, a war between the advocates of Emperor Meiji and the followers of Tokugawa Shogunate, erupted in her home domain. She defended the Tokugawa but the governor of Aizu refused to allow Nakano and her female warriors to participate in the domain’s army. Thus, she decided to join the Battle of Aizu as the leader of Joshitai. She died in the war at the age of only 21. 

 

 

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