Munakata Saikaku

Munakata Saikaku
宗像 才鶴
Munakata Shrine Shimmon Gate
Munakata clan head
In office 1586–Unknown
Personal
Born	16th-century
Died	Unknown
Nationality	Japan
Spouse	Munakata Ujisada
Occupation	Onna-musha Military commander
Military career
Allegiance	Toyotomi clan
Unit	Munakata clan
Battles / wars	Kyūshū Campaign

Munakata Saikaku (宗像 才鶴) was a Japanese female samurai warlord, aristocrat and onna-musha of the Sengoku period. She was the wife of Munakata Ujisada, the last Munakata clan daiguji of Munakata Shrine in Chikuzen province of the Kyushu island. After her husband's death in 1586, she was appointed leader of the Munataka clan by Japan's most powerful man at the time, Toyotomi Hideyoshi. She played a crucial role in the Kyushu campaign, her achievements in battles were noted and she became a female lord.^[1]

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three ''Japan's Great unifier'', sent letters to Munakata Saikaku of the Munakata clan, famed for producing successive generations of "daiguji," the highest-ranking priest of Munakata Taisha shrine. Saikaku was the wife of Ujisada, the last daiguji of the Shinto shrine, which is a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The letter sent by Hideyoshi, congratulated her on her military achievements during her fight against the Shimazu clan in the Kyushu Campaign. Because of her conquests in battle, Hideyoshi appointed her as the head of the Munakata clan.