Sasaki Rui: Japanese female swordsman

There are many bad female warriors in Japanese history, including pioneer leaders of the 12th century Tomoe GozenIt is said to be “worth a thousand warriors”, and in part of the Poshin War, Nakano Takeko, the leader of Joshtai (Women’s Army). Between these two people, there is Sasaki Rui.

She didn’t know much about her, not even her date of birth and death. What we know, though, is that she was active in swordsmanship in the early Edo period, and her life was easily worth at least two historical action dramas on a large budget.

Background of Sasaki Rui

She was born in today’s Ibaraki Prefecture, Sasaki Budayu is a famous martial artist Sasaki Budayu serving Doi Toshikatsu, and Doi Toshikatsu, chief consultant of Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada. Sasaki is an only child who has been training in various battles since he was a very young man, from traditional swordsmanship to Sekiguchi-ryuan eclectic art that combines close combat with quick draws and other sword techniques.

However, she also reportedly excelled in Japanese etiquette, family management and other arts. This is her status as the daughter of a well-known samurai family, making her a very attractive marriage prospect, and she obviously has many suitors. However, she turned down everyone because she and her father wanted her to marry a warrior worthy of Sasakie’s legacy.

Sadly, her father died before naming the heirs, and she didn’t count it. During the Civil War in the South, it was technically possible for women to lead a family without any male relatives, such as what happened in the mid-16th century in the II Naotora.

However, by the Edo era, this will no longer fly. Sasaki’s lineage will end with Rui unless she finds her husband. That’s what she claims to do by going to Edo (modern Tokyo) and dressing up like a man.

utagawa kuniyoshi (about 1800s)

A strangely dressed female swordsman

After his father’s death, Sasaki opened his own dojo in Asakusa. She apparently decorated the entrance with a spear, naginata Glaives and armor lockers, but that’s not the biggest impression on the neighbors. She was wearing black silk when she went out Sea Jacket and carry two samurai swords, very male-reserved style.

Some sources say she also wears a samurai hairstyle, but that may be a misunderstanding because she used it Kogai – A long dagger-like hairdressing tool Warriors use to shape hair (Or mark the cutoff head) – This became a popular decoration for Edo women in the 17th century.

Despite this, Sasaki’s dress was actually summoned in front of the magistrate in Edo (Marche – Boogie). When asked about her appearance, Sasaki simply explained that she hoped her bold outfit would help her attract a powerful man worthy of restoring her pride of the Sasaki clan.

By then, Sasaki’s Dojo had become a great swordsman and she had become a great swordsman, so her explanation was accepted. Later, her father’s former patron Doi allegedly helped her find her husband and restore her last name and land. This is more or less where the legend of Sasaki ends. Except for a small detail.

Sasaki Rui vss dressing crime

Sasaki not only practices fighting in her dojo. The story is that she has frequently clashed with new street gangs since the country entered a peace era.

These kabukimono or Hatamoto-Yakko It consists of young samurai from the Japanese warrior class, from the lower-level Rhoin to the house members of the shogun. Without real war to occupy them, they united to intimidate, blackmail and even kill the Edo people. They also often do this in incredibly gorgeous clothes and even female kimonos.

kabukimono Engage in non-Sou Island behavior. Their name comes with automatic word booklet, Meaning “act or wear strange clothes” and also the origin of “Kabuki” because the theater is It was originally a matter of only womenwomen play all roles, including dressing up as men. The Chinese character character of “Kabuki” was later changed to “Singing, Dance and Skills.”

Sasaki is reportedly a woman wearing men who will fight these criminal trans-dressers, but has also won respect from other street gangs, such as Shiratsuka-Gumi, who wears her clothes completely white, from clothes to scabbards. It was romantic from us to the feudal era, but when street crimes occurred during Edor, it at least looked like Super fun.

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