Nakazawa Koto

Nakazawa Koto (中沢琴, 1839 October 12, 1927) was female swordsman from the Bakumatsu period. She joined the Rōshigumi, Shinshengumi and later to Shinchogumi forces, she worked as pro-Tokugawa shogunate agent in Boshin War.

Nakazawa Koto was born in Kōzuke Province. She was very skilled in martial arts since her childhood, especially in Kenjutsu. In 1863, she went to Kyotodressed as a man following her brother, Sadamasa who participated in the Roshigumi group in Kyoto. She was on 170cm tall (5'7 height), which was relatively tall for a Japanese man at that time, so when reporting to the Shogunate officers of Kyoto, Koto was thought to be a man. She took part in the Kyoto defenders group led by Kyokawa Hachirō.

Although the Rōshigumi was funded by the Tokugawa Bakufu, the leader Kyokawa Hachirō and others had strong loyalties to the emperor and planned to gather other rōnin in Kyoto to police the city from insurgents. In March 26, 1863, Kiyokawa led the Rōshigumi out of Edo as the vanguard of Shogun Iemochi’s procession to Kyoto, which they arrived in April 10, 1863.

When Kyokawa's scheme was revealed in Kyoto, he immediately commanded the Rōshigumi to return to Edo. The members were disbanded and then returned to Edo, Nakazawa Koto and other officers went to Edo (Tokyo) and later became the founding members of the Shinchōgumi.

Boshin war

She and her brother join the shogunate forces of Edo, the Shinchogumi. During the crisis between the empire and the Tokugawa Shogunate, Koto allied with the Tokugawa in the Boshin War. One of its causes was the declaration by Emperor Meiji that it would decree the abolition of the 200-year-old shogunate and impose direct command of the imperial court. Military action by the imperial forces and acts of violence by Meiji supporters in Edo led the Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu to launch an attack to attempt to control the court in Kyoto.

Historical records indicate that during the Boshin War, Nakazawa Koto came together to defend the shogunate against the attack of the Satsuma and Ogi clans (Satchō Alliance) in Edo in 1568. After these attacks, Koto and her brother joined the Battle of Hokuetsu. During this battle Nakazawa Koto was besieged by a dozen enemy samurai. Nakazawa had broken her attackers' siege by decisively defending herself with her katana and then pressing her attachers.

Legacy

While Nakazawa Koto worked as a member of the Shinchogumi, she always dressed as a man, even after the officers knew her true identity. Koto was not just a great swordswoman; it is said that she had an exceptional beauty that always impressed many people. A tale written about her says: "When Koto dresses as a man, many women fall in love with her. When Koto dresses as a woman, many men fall in love with her."

Koto was proud as a female swordsman, so she decided she would only marry a man who could be stronger than her. However, apparently no living man could beat her in a duel, so she remained single all her life. She died on October 12, 1927. Her grave is located in Tone District, Gunma, where she was born, many people visit her tomb to this day.