Nakano Takeko: Japan's Honorable Female Samurai

A portrait of Nakano Takeko

During the twilight years of the samurai, a portion of heinous battles were led by fearsome women. Out of these women would be Nakano Takeko, a historical figure in the age of the female samurai who would not be silenced in the face of battle. She built a legacy a female samurai warriors who stood their ground in the battle for their country while defying the patriarchal ideals and customs of Japan.

Nakano Takeko was born on April, 1847 in Edo, Japan as the eldest daughter to her family. As a child, Nakano had possessed an intellectual aptitude like no other. By the age of six, she quickly advanced under the training for martial arts, literary arts and calligraphy (1). She also specialized under the form of Ittō-ryū, a Japanese combat style using a sword while also becoming skilled in the use of a naginata, a bladed pole arm. Nakano was very much inspired by stories of Japanese warriors, and generals with her favorite being of the legendary Tomoe Gozen, who was a brave samurai woman. After becoming adopted by her martial arts teacher, she spent five years training and honing her skills under his guidance. She however, decided to leave his presence after his attempts to arrange her in a marriage with his nephew and went back home to Edo, Japan (2). 

Nakano Takeko in her armor

By 1869, the Boshin War (Japanese Revolution) had begun and the military forces of Tokugawa shogunate had been opposed, yet some forces continued to fight in Aizu, Japan (1). Regardless of the conflict, Nakano had chosen to partake in the Battle of Aizu. Due to the gender restrictions however, women were not allowed to partake in the army by the Aizu officials. Yet, Nakano's tenaciousness and passion for her country led her to forming an all women warrior unit that included her mother and sister (3). All of these women were armed with naginata and stood them their ground with Nakano leading. This unit would officially be known as the "Woman's Army."

As the Battle of Aizu progressed, Nakano took the opportunity to lead her female combatants into the siege to attack. The group of women made a wonderful counter-attack against the Imperial Armed Japanese troops. To the surprise of the Japanese armed troops, the women were not easy to shoot down as they battled with every inch of their lives. Although, these Imperial Japanese troops were armed with rifles, the Woman's Army could not be stopped and dozens of enemy soldiers were either killed or injured badly. Ultimately, Nakano had killed five enemy opponents before taking a fatal bullet to the chest (2). With the very inch of her life, Nakano made a final wish to her sister to have her head cut off rather than allowing the enemy to savor it as a trophy. Her sister accepted this wish and decapitated Nakano's head (3). Once the battle ended along with the fall of Aizu, Nakano's sister went to the temple of Hōkai-ji to bury Nakano's head under a pine tree. In the years to follow, a monument was made to honor Nakano Takeko's legacy as Japan's most honorable female samurai (3). 

An illustration of Nakano Takeko along with her death poem

Traditionally, women in Japan have been designated to the roles as subordinates. They are supposed to obey immensely to either the father, husband, or son if you are an elderly woman. This kind of treatment goes further by describing the behavioral expectations of the Japanese women as only modest, courteous, tidy, compliant, etc. As women were supposed to embody the domestic sphere for staying home to do chores like cooking and cleaning, Nakano had a completely different perspective from these roles. By the time the Boshin War and Battle of Aizu took place, Nakano was already 21 years old and ready to defend her country at the risk of her own life. Instead of succumbing to the norms placed on Japanese women in her culture by staying dormant, she took initiative and valued the idea of women being strong, combative and independent in the face of trouble. Even by her time spent training and studying, she has made it clear that she is fully prepared to serve in a league for the duty of her country regardless of her gender. With that kind of ideals, this led her to organizing a fearless female army that stood against insurmountable danger and trouble for the sake of protecting their land. Her story resonates with me as I believe that when people make the choice of joining the army, they are embracing their love for their country along with their strong need to protect it. It shouldn't matter what race, gender or sexuality a person is because we are all a part of one nation and the only way to build a better one is when we all come together. Through this, we will have no choice, but to be successful in the face of trouble and chaos and we have Nakano Takeko to thank for proving this idea to be true. To this day, young girls on the celebratory Aizu Annual Festival congregate around to commemorate her bravery as a samurai along with the other woman who were involved too. Like Tomoe Gozan, Nakano's legacy became a story that would be told to young Japanese girls all around for inspiration of how a true warrior should be.  

The Monument of Nakano Takeko in Fukushima, Japan (1847-1868)

Works Cited: 

    (1).“Nakano Takeko中野 竹子 Woman Warrior in Edo.” Ordine Di Akiba - Discovery The Japan's Shades, https://www.ordinediakiba.com/japanese-culture/japanese-history/21-nakano-takek-woman-warrior-in-edo.

    (2) Barb, Brutal. “Warrior Women: Nakano Takeko.” Defense, 13 May 2018,     https://www.warriorwomenselfdefense.org/warrior-women-nakano-takeko/. 

    (3)Rae, Callum. “Nakano Takeko.” The Female Soldier, The Female Soldier, 21 Apr. 2015, http://thefemalesoldier.com/blog/nakano-takeko. 

Pictures: 

Unknown. “Nakano Takeko中野 竹子 Woman Warrior in Edo.” Ordine Di Akiba - Discovery The Japan's Shades, https://www.ordinediakiba.com/japanese-culture/japanese-history/21-nakano-takek-woman-warrior-in-edo.

Unknown. "Photo of  an Onna-Bugeisha female Samurai warrior of feudal Japan." Found, Pinterest, 5 December 2015, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/176203404149131455/?nic=1a

Unknown. "Nakano Takeko." Found, 13 April 2014,  https://www.flickr.com/photos/otterlove/13906258526

Unknown. "Nakano Takeko Monument." Found, 2018, https://aizu.welcome-fukushima.com/en/nakanotakeko