Often in the background or not mentioned much at all, women played an important part in the history of the samurai in Japan during the 600 years that the samurai were the major fighting influence. These women were frequently taught by parents in hopes that their skills would be useful in helping to defend their homes from invading forces. The naginata was a weapon specifically designed for use by women. This weapon was a curved blade atop a long pole that could be wielded with deadly results in the hands of an trained warrior.

When one really looking into Japanese history, stories and written or drawn events will show a number of strong women, some of whom led invasions and attacks on the opposition. These women were are fearless and often more so than the men in battle. Frequently these women became the power behind the men on the throne. Of course, when the samurai went away with the formation of standing armies in the mid 1800s, so went samurai women.

In this book by Stephen Turnbull, we get to see how these women lived their lives and what role they played as both a warrior and as a wife or consort. The tales of several famous women such as Harui Tsuruhime and the women of Aizu are covered in some depth. We get to see how they were dressed, the equipment they carried and how they were trained. All of this is superbly illustrated by Giuseppe Rava as well as a number of period prints and artifacts. I found it particularly interesting that most of the art work on these women revolves around their committing honorable suicide, but perhaps that is pretty standard stuff for the Japanese around this time.

It all makes for an excellent book on the subject as well as a look into a lifestyle about which few have written in any language. A book I know you will enjoy reading as much as did I.

December 2010.

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