Yamamoto Yaeko

A trailblazing female warrior and educator in Japan's Meiji Restoration era

Yamamoto Yaeko (1845–1932), also known as Niijima Yae, defied feudal Japan's gender norms by becoming a skilled marksman and military strategist. Born into the Aizu samurai clan, she fought alongside male soldiers during the Boshin War (1868–1869), manning cannons to defend Tsuruga Castle – an unprecedented act for a woman.

After the war, she co-founded Doshisha University with her husband Joseph Hardy Neesima, promoting Western-style education. Her dual legacy as both warrior and educator challenged rigid Edo-period social structures, making her a symbol of Japan's transition to modernity. She later became the first woman awarded the Order of the Precious Crown for nursing contributions during the Sino-Japanese War.