Japanese women in warfare

The naginata (, , ) is a polearm and one of several varieties of traditionally made Japanese blades (nihontō). Naginata were originally used by the samurai class of feudal Japan, as well as by ashigaru (foot soldiers) and sōhei (warrior monks). The naginata is the iconic weapon of the onna-musha, a type of female warrior belonging to the Japanese nobility.

, also known as the , was a shamaness-queen of Yamatai-koku in . Early Chinese dynastic histories chronicle tributary relations between Queen Himiko and the Cao Wei Kingdom (220–265) and record that the Yayoi period people chose her as ruler following decades of warfare among the kings of Wa. Early Japanese histories do not mention Himiko, but historians associate her with legendary figures such as Empress Consort Jingū, who is said to have served as regent from 201 to 269.

legendary empress of Japan (170–269) said to have invaded Korea

a female samurai warrior who fought during the Genpei War from 1180 to 1185 CE

thumb|Ishi-jo wielding a naginata, woodblock print by [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1848]]

Japanese warrior

political leader of Kamakura shogunate

is a Japanese term for . In popular culture, it is often used for female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu (ninpo). The term was largely popularized by novelist Futaro Yamada in his novel in 1964.

female samurai warrior of the late 12th and early 13th century

Japanese former soldier and nurse

Queen regnant of Yamatai (Japan)

Japanese sword master

Japanese samurai woman

Japanese female swordsman

Japanese educator