Portrait of Nakano Takeko
Nakano Takeko spent her short life dedicated to being a highly skilled female samurai. She passed away heroically at the age of 21 while taking on the Imperial Army.
Nakano Takeko spent her short life dedicated to being a highly skilled female samurai. She passed away heroically at the age of 21 while taking on the Imperial Army.
Life as a warrior
Nakano Takeko was born in 1840 in Edo, Japan. Daughter of an army official, she grew up being trained in literary and forms of martial arts, including one-sword fighting. (3) She was adoptive daughter to her martial arts trainer for several years to focus more on her skills. She later ended up returning to her family after he attempted to arrange her hand in marriage. (2) (Being highly skilled, she became a martial arts instructor in her late teenage years. She is known to have killed at least 127 samurai.During the later years of her training, the Boshin War began. Although Shogun surrendered, many supporters continued to fight and invaded Aizu. Takeko stepped up and fought during the invasion. Since women were prohibited from joining the army during this time, Takeko created a unofficial armed group of female samurai to fight alongside the Emperor's men. Among these 20 women were her mother and sister. (3) The female samurai were later named the "Jōshitai," which when translated means Women's army. (1)
While leading a charge against the Imperial Army, Takeko was able to kill at least 5 soldiers before she suffered a shot to the chest. Out of fear of having her body used as a trophy of war, she asked her sister to cut it off and bury it. (1) Her sister honored her wish and buried her under a pine tree in Hōkai-ji Temple. (3)
The female samurai weapon of choice, naginata (Japanese pole weapon)
Legacy
A monument was erected at the Hōkai-ji Temple, next to her burial site. Every year during the Aizu Autumn festival, Takeko and her women army are honored by young girls to commemorate their bravery. (4) Even though she was not considered a member of the army, Takeko is remembered as one of the most resilient and courageous warriors in Japanese history.
Works Cited
“9 Female Warriors Who Made Their Mark On History.” Mental Floss, 5 Mar. 2017, mentalfloss.com/article/59287/9-female-warriors-who-made-their-mark-history.
“Nakano Takeko.” The Female Soldier, thefemalesoldier.com/blog/nakano-takeko.
“Nakano Takeko.” Badass Ladies of History, 10 June 2014, badassladiesofhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/nakano-takeko/.
“Takeko Nakano: The Samurai Who Refused to Die Quietly.” Rejected Princesses, www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/takeko-nakano.
“9 Female Warriors Who Made Their Mark On History.” Mental Floss, 5 Mar. 2017, mentalfloss.com/article/59287/9-female-warriors-who-made-their-mark-history.
“Nakano Takeko.” The Female Soldier, thefemalesoldier.com/blog/nakano-takeko.
“Nakano Takeko.” Badass Ladies of History, 10 June 2014, badassladiesofhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/nakano-takeko/.
“Takeko Nakano: The Samurai Who Refused to Die Quietly.” Rejected Princesses, www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/takeko-nakano.
“9 Female Warriors Who Made Their Mark On History.” Mental Floss, 5 Mar. 2017, mentalfloss.com/article/59287/9-female-warriors-who-made-their-mark-history.
“Nakano Takeko.” The Female Soldier, thefemalesoldier.com/blog/nakano-takeko.
“Nakano Takeko.” Badass Ladies of History, 10 June 2014, badassladiesofhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/nakano-takeko/.
“Takeko Nakano: The Samurai Who Refused to Die Quietly.” Rejected Princesses, www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/takeko-nakan
Barb, Brutal. “Warrior Women: Nakano Takeko.” Warrior Women Self-Defense, 13 May 2018, www.warriorwomenselfdefense.org/warrior-women-nakano-takeko/. (2)
“Nakano Takeko.” The Female Soldier, thefemalesoldier.com/blog/nakano-takeko. (3)
“Nakano Takeko.” Badass Ladies of History, 10 June 2014, badassladiesofhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/nakano-takeko/. (4)
“Takeko Nakano: The Samurai Who Refused to Die Quietly.” Rejected Princesses, www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/takeko-nakano.
“9 Female Warriors Who Made Their Mark On History.” Mental Floss, 5 Mar. 2017, mentalfloss.com/article/59287/9-female-warriors-who-made-their-mark-history.
“Nakano Takeko.” The Female Soldier, thefemalesoldier.com/blog/nakano-takeko.
“Nakano Takeko.” Badass Ladies of History, 10 June 2014, badassladiesofhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/nakano-takeko/.
“Takeko Nakano: The Samurai Who Refused to Die Quietly.” Rejected Princesses, www.rejectedprincesses.com/princesses/takeko-nakano.
This was really interesting to read! She sounds similar to Mulan, but it's neat that instead of dressing like a man to fight, she just created her own female army.
ReplyDelete