Akai Teruko

Akai Teruko
赤井輝子
Lord of Ushiku
(Yura clan head)
In office
1591
Succeeded byYura Kunishige
Personal details
SpouseYura Shigeru
ChildrenYura Kinishige
Nagao Akinaga
Parent
  • Akai Terumitsu (father)
RelativesKaihime (granddaughter)
Military service
Allegiance Akai clan
Later Hōjō clan
Toyotomi clan
Unit Yura clan
Battles/warsSiege of Kanayama castle
Siege of Odawara (1590)
Siege of Matsuida castle

Akai Teruko (赤井輝子, November 6, 1514 – December 17, 1594) or Myoin-ni (妙印尼) was a late-Sengoku period Onna-musha warrior. Teruko was a woman trained in ko-naginata, fought in many battles when younger and commanded three thousand soldiers in Kanayama castle at 70 years old.[1] She was a daughter of Akai Terumitsu, spouse of Yura Shigeru, a retainer of the Hōjō clan, and grandmother of Kaihime.[2]

In contrast to her famous granddaughter, Kaihime, who was known as "The most beautiful woman in east Japan" (東国無双の美人), Teruko was known as ''The strongest woman in the Warring States Period'' (戦国時代最強の女丈夫).[3]

  1. ^ 新田の史蹟 (in Japanese). 岡部福蔵. 1938.
  2. ^ Jōmo oyobi Jōmojin (in Japanese). 1931.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).