| Summary: | The role of 19th century Japanese women is often misinterpreted by the West. While the late Tokugawa period was certainly a patriarchy, women of the samurai class were commonly taught how to wield weapons and defend their homes. This is particularly evident in the Battle of Aizu Wakamatsu during the Boshin War where women were very active in the fighting. This study hopes to understand the culture around these women at the time of the battle, and also look at their place in contemporary popular culture. To investigate this, I have gathered and read secondary sources regarding women in Japan and their role among warriors. In addition, I traveled to Japan to find primary sources and to visit sites pertinent to my research, such as the Tsurugajo Castle in Aizu Wakamatsu. I have also begun reading the translation of the memoirs of one of the women who fought at Aizu, Yamamoto Yaeko. To learn of their portrayal in popular culture, I have read a manga and watched a Taiga Drama, both of which focus on telling the story of Yamamoto Yaeko. Thus far, my research demonstrates that it was fairly common for women of the samurai class to learn martial arts. However, it was less common that they would participate in actual battles and the women of Aizu and others like them appear to be the exception to the rule. Keywords: Joshigun, Aizu, Boshin War, Yamamoto Yaeko, Nakano Takeko
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