*Her birthplace was the old city of Edo, which is modern Tokyo*

Samurai warrior who led a squadron of female samurai called the Joshitai, during the Boshin War, also called the Japanese Revolution, which was a civil war in Japan between the old way of Government, the Shogunate, versus the new Western Government. Takeko led alongside her mother, Kouko, and younger sister, Yuko, who was only sixteen at the time. Takeko died in battle, and her dying wish, which she relayed to her sister, was for Yuko to behead her so that her body could not become a trophy. Yuko survived the battle and war, which ended a short time later, and buried her sister's head. Takeko's naginata, or samurai sword, was donated to a museum where it remains to this day.

*Her birthplace was the old city of Edo, which is modern Tokyo*

Samurai warrior who led a squadron of female samurai called the Joshitai, during the Boshin War, also called the Japanese Revolution, which was a civil war in Japan between the old way of Government, the Shogunate, versus the new Western Government. Takeko led alongside her mother, Kouko, and younger sister, Yuko, who was only sixteen at the time. Takeko died in battle, and her dying wish, which she relayed to her sister, was for Yuko to behead her so that her body could not become a trophy. Yuko survived the battle and war, which ended a short time later, and buried her sister's head. Takeko's naginata, or samurai sword, was donated to a museum where it remains to this day.