was a type of
female warrior belonging to the
Japanese nobility. Many women engaged in battle, commonly alongside samurai men. They were members of the
bushi (
samurai) class in feudal Japan and were trained in the use of weapons to protect their household, family, and honour in times of war. Significant icons such as
Tomoe Gozen,
Nakano Takeko, and
Hojo Masako are famous examples of onna-bugeisha.