Women Warriors of Japan

[Henry Wilson]

One for the ladies

 

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ ... 009x1.html

[george trotter]

Hi Henry,

very interesting as usual...this stoic trait in samurai women is noted even in recent times, if I remember aright, Field Marshall Sugiyama made a pact with his wife that they would both commit seppuku as soon as they had "tidied up" outstanding duties after the defeat of Japan in 1945. The tidying-up (dismantling the IJA structure) was due to be completed by the morning of 12 Sept 1945, after which both would die to apologise to the Emperor. After he had disbanded the IJA on that day, he was sitting at his desk (so the story goes) thinking about his approaching seppuku, when the phone rang (about lunch time). When he answered it was his wife: "What?" she said, "you are still alive to answer the phone?". Of course, he immediately did his duty, followed soon after by his wife at home. I can't remember where I heard this story, maybe Bergamini?

 

Of course, women are noted elsewhere as fierce warriors in several cultures including the Celts and more importantly, as respected by men ...the Pictish women accompanied their menfolk into battle as a matter of course and the land ownership lines were matrilinear then. These tattooed Celts struck fear into the hearts of the Roman legions (Pictus means "painted" in Latin) and their ferocity in battle is commented on...the warfare skills of the Celtic women and destruction of Roman cities in Britain caused by Boadica is well known. Even though Christianity had, by 1200 relegated European women to mere chattals, the Scottish Border women went as auxulliaries (water carriers and nurses etc) to Flodden in 1513 and many fell there. Border Scots women are known to have accompanied their men in resisting English invasions into Berwickshire and Roxburghshire in 1523 and helped their men in ambushes and attacks on the English cavalry, as did the Maiden Lilliard, who died "sword in hand" at Ancrum Moor in 1545. These women joined in the pursuit and slaughter of the fleeing English also (better not ask what they did to the prisoners!)

 

I know this last is a bit off-topic to Nihonto...Hope I haven't digressed too much.

Regards,