Akai Teruko

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. She was a daughter of Akai Terumitsu, spouse of Yura Shigeru, a retainer of the Hōjō clan, and grandmother of Kaihime.

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 (戦国時代最強の女丈夫).

At 76 years old, Toyotomi Hideyoshi launched the Conquest of Odawara (1590). At first Teruko was allied with the Hojo clan, she defended Kiryū Castle while her son, Yura Kunishige, was holed-up in Odawara Castle. On the same year, she surrendered via Maeda Toshiie to the Toyotomi army. Thereafter, Teruko cooperated with the Toyotomi by having she and her grandson, Yura Sadashige, lead a contingent of 200 soldiers in support of an assault on Matsuida Castle.

Teruko was greatly admired by Hideyoshi and Toshiie for their heroic deeds as a warrior. Hideyoshi gave her as a reward the territory of 5435 koku in Ushiku, but soon she transferred the property to Kunishige.

Later life Teruko died in 1594 and was buried in Togetsu-in in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture. She was known as (戦国時代最強の女丈夫)

Popular culture She makes appearances in the Samurai Warriors and Nobunaga's Ambition series of games.