Most impressive women in the Sengoku Period

A Japanese history website conducted a survey to find out from Japanese who they thought were the most impressive women during the Sengoku Period.

In the Sengoku period, a time of legendary generals like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu, women also played extraordinary roles. Here are the results of a survey asking 497 people which “Great Lady of the Warring States” they find most impressive.

No. 5: Azai Ogo

The youngest of the “Three Azai Sisters,” Ogo was the daughter of Azai Nagamasa and Oichi (Nobunaga’s sister).

A Turbulent Life: After her father’s suicide and her mother’s death, she was protected by Hideyoshi. She was ordered to marry three times, eventually becoming the wife of the second Shogun, Tokugawa Hidetada.
Historical Legacy: She gave birth to the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu.
Why she is “Great”: Voters praised her resilience, noting that while she seemed like a pawn of the era, she ended her life as the powerful mother of a Shogun, proving she was a woman of strong will and great luck.

No. 4: Maeda Matsu

The wife of Maeda Toshiie, the founder of the Kaga Domain.

Internal Support: Matsu was famous for her “inner merit” (support from behind the scenes). When her husband faced a life-or-death choice between Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie after Nobunaga’s death, Matsu’s influence helped navigate the family to safety and prosperity.
Outspoken Partner: Unlike many submissive wives of the time, she was known to voice her opinions boldly to her husband.
Why she is “Great”: Voters admire her role in building the “Million Koku” Kaga Domain and her legendary presence as a pillar of the Maeda family.

No. 3: Hosokawa Gracia

The daughter of the “traitor” Akechi Mitsuhide and wife of Hosokawa Tadaoki.

Conviction and Faith: Known for her beauty and intelligence, her life turned upside down when her father killed Nobunaga. She lived in hidden exile and eventually converted to Christianity, finding strength in her faith despite her husband’s anger and the national ban on the religion.
A Heroic End: During the lead-up to the Battle of Sekigahara, she was ordered to be taken hostage by Ishida Mitsunari. She refused and chose to have a servant end her life rather than be used as a pawn, as her faith forbade suicide.
Why she is “Great”: People are moved by her unwavering belief and how she maintained her dignity despite being the “daughter of a traitor.”

No. 2: Oichi no Kata

The sister of Oda Nobunaga, often called the most beautiful and intelligent woman of her time.

Tragic Heroine: She married Azai Nagamasa, but their alliance ended in war against her brother. After her husband’s suicide, she returned to the Oda family, only to face tragedy again when Nobunaga was killed.
Defiance: She remarried Shibata Katsuie, and when he was defeated by Hideyoshi, she famously refused Hideyoshi’s protection. She chose to die with her husband, but only after ensuring her three daughters (including Ogo and Yodo-dono) were safely evacuated.
Why she is “Great”: Voters see her not just as a victim of fate, but as a “Sengoku Super-Celebrity” who held immense silent power over the era’s greatest men.

No. 1: Nene

The legal wife of the “Great Unifier” Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

A Love Match: In an era of arranged political marriages, Nene and Hideyoshi’s marriage was a rare love match, despite her parents’ initial disapproval of Hideyoshi’s low social status.
The Power Behind the Throne: As Hideyoshi rose from a foot soldier to ruler of Japan, Nene managed the family’s “business.” She handled administrative affairs in his absence and even negotiated tax rates for the common people.
Diplomatic Skill: Even after Hideyoshi’s death, she maintained high status as Kita-no-Mandokoro and was deeply respected by Tokugawa Ieyasu. She spent her final years at Kodai-ji Temple in Kyoto, which she founded.
Why she is “Great”: Respondents believe Hideyoshi could never have conquered Japan without her. She is praised for her immense political talent, her ability to manage complex human relationships, and her status as a woman who remained at the heart of the government despite having no children of her own.

There you go folks, the five most impressive women during the Sengoku period. What do you think? Do you agree and what other women would you like to see on this list.

Stu

藍瑠杜