Japanese fighting grandma, he becomes a legend

Anyone who lives in Japan long enough will eventually learn about the Japanese Watson (Grandmother) is the most powerful form of life on earth. In their obvious immortality, impermeability to extreme weather and the amazing ability to skip any line (mainly by ignorance) is an incredible force. This has been the case for nearly half a thousand years, as evidenced by the female warrior Akai Teruko, who received the glory of the battlefield in the 1970s, more than some warriors in her lifetime. This is the story of “the strongest woman in the period of the warring countries in Japan.”

The only known description of Akai Teruko | Image: myouinniteruko.com

Seventy years of preparation

After the collapse of the imperial and military government in the mid-15 yearsTh During the century, local warriors carved their own semi-independent kingdoms across the country. In modern Gunma County, one of the most prestigious warlord families is the Akai family, the ruler of Tatebayashi Castle. Born there in 1514, Teruko is the only child of Akai Terumitsu, whose daughter is trained in politics, strategy and martial arts art. She reportedly performed well on Ko-Naginata, a short blade version of the Japanese charm weapon, which was led by female warriors and Warrior monk.

Given that Teruko was the sole Akai heir from the turbulent Sengoku (warring state) period, this is not entirely impossible. But, in hindsight, it almost felt her father gave Teruko, who later needed to write her own name in other people’s blood. Further supporting the theory of Terumitsu’s debris is the legend that he chose the location of the castle after a Fox Spirit visit. This man obviously has friends on a high place.

Teruko eventually married Yura Narishige, Lord Kanayama Castle (she didn’t even Need decoration make it happen! ), the couple had many children together, including Yura Kunishige, Nagao Akinaga and a daughter, who later gave birth to Kaihime, once known as “the most beautiful woman in eastern Japan.” Apparently, Teruko’s DNA tends to be the highest, as her enemies will soon be discovered.

The strongest woman in Sengoku’s period

Narishige died in 1578 and Teruko also swears under the name “Myoin-ni”, but she has not completely evacuated herself from public life, but she has succumbed to tradition. Fearing that her heir Kunishige lacked the cunning and political mind of her father, she decided to rule Yura from the shadows and was defended in 1584 when Kunishige and his brother were taken hostage by later Hojo Clan, who later Hojo Clan used the Genius strategy to invite them to Odawara Castle and not let them leave. What do they ask for? Hand over Kanayama Castle. Truco had a different idea.

At the age of 71, she summoned three thousand soldiers and began preparing for Hojo using everything she learned from books and her late husband’s military campaign. She dug defensive treks around the castle. She ordered the construction of hidden doorways and secret roads for night ambush. She collected regulations, created emergency reservoirs, developed combat plans, took advantage of local terrain, and even exploited psychological warfare by driving the banner of the powerful Nitta family.

Nitta is related to the history of Kanayama, and the banner is a powerful symbol of the power of Teruko troops. But that’s also Deep Historical cuts are because it is Nitta Yoshisada 870 original Hojo members of 1333. Later Hojo actually matches 14Th– Chinese Hojo, but named after them, gives itself an extra reputation, and Teruko uses it brilliantly.

With all this, the warring Septuagenarian was able to stop the enemy for 15 months in a siege known as Kanayama Castle. During this time, she stood on the walls in full combat armor every day, delivering exciting speeches, and even leading secret raids at night to reduce the morale of the invading army. Wait a moment. The Secret of a powerful family New York ruler, with incompetent children, is well known for his speaking skills? We are completely sure Myoin-Ni is not reincarnation The nun shogunate?

Silver hair, silver tongue

Myoin-Ni was able to negotiate the support of Satake and Sano clans, but even with their help, she knew she could not defend Kanayama Castle indefinitely. Finally, she only used her diplomatic skills without any major warlord support, and she managed to ensure her son was released without any forced suicide. This is a miracle. She did have to give up her castle, but the deal was not completed.

When Toyotomi Hideyoshi began to unify Japan around the neck of the woods in 1590, Myoin-Ni initially opposed him, but soon knew he was the right horse, so she guaranteed her loyalty to him with the help of Hideyoshi’s trusted General Maeda Toshiie. She even led hundreds of soldiers to aid Hideyoshi’s siege of Matsuida Castle at the age of 76. Toshiie was impressed by her combat abilities and diplomatic skills, and he called her “the great patriarch of Nitta” and would not shut up.

Despite briefly opposing him (this is Spend bigger warlords, their land and titles), and eventually, Myoin-Ni was recognized by Toyota Hideyoshi for her defense of 15 months of Kanayama and acquired new property in Ushiku, thus allowing her lineage to survive. She died peacefully in her new home at the age of 81 in 1594. To this day, the armor-like similarity of Teruko/Myoin-Ni still appears during the Tatebayashi Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival) in Gunma. People there love their battles.

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