Smithsonian Channel Documentaries

Samurai Warrior Queens (2015x19)

Air date: Sep 14, 2015

In ancient Japan, honor and glory were reserved for male soldiers only, which makes the story of Takeko Nakano so remarkable. Not only was she a female Japanese warrior, but she was joined by several hundred other samurai warrior women, whose complete dedication and extensive suffering remains one of the world’s great untold stories. Discover Nakano’s rise to become a martial arts master, her epic battle for her clans’ independence, and how in today’s martial arts schools, the spirit of Japan’s female warriors continues to thrive.