The Kunoichi: The Secret Women Warriors of Feudal Japan

Written By Sumiko Nakano

The Sengoku period (1467–1615) was a time of upheaval and war in Japan, a bloody era where the fate of clans was often determined not just by the strength of armies, but by the whispers of spies and the shadows of assassins.

Among the many figures who mastered the art of subterfuge during this chaotic period, one name stands out: Mochizuki Chiyome. Her story is not a legend but a documented chapter in Japan's history, one that shaped the covert warfare of the Takeda clan and gave rise to the mysterious figure of the kunoichi—the female ninja.

Mochizuki Chiyome was born into the Mochizuki family, a noble house closely allied with the Takeda clan, in Kai Province (modern-day Yamanashi Prefecture).

Historical sources suggest she was married to Mochizuki Nobumasa, a samurai retainer of Takeda Shingen, one of the most formidable warlords of the era.

Nobumasa’s death in battle, likely before 1561, left Chiyome widowed, a fate shared by countless women during the Sengoku period. However, her life took a sharp turn when she came under the protection of her husband’s overlord, Takeda Shingen.

Takeda Shingen (1521–1573), often referred to as the "Tiger of Kai," was a brilliant military tactician and a master of psychological and covert warfare. His rivalry with Uesugi Kenshin and his campaigns against the Tokugawa and Hojo clans demanded every advantage he could muster.

Around 1561, recognizing Chiyome’s intelligence and resourcefulness, Shingen assigned her a task that would change her life and Japan’s covert history. He asked her to create a network of female operatives who could carry out espionage, sabotage, and, when necessary, assassination.

Historical accounts suggest that Chiyome accepted Shingen’s challenge and established her operations in the village of Nazu in Kai Province. Her recruitment methods were as innovative as her mission. She sought out women who had been marginalized by society—war widows, orphans, geisha, and those abandoned by their families.

The chaos of the Sengoku period provided a steady stream of recruits, many of whom had little to lose and everything to gain.Chiyome cloaked her operations in the guise of charity. Officially, she offered these women sanctuary and trained them to become miko (shrine maidens).

This ruse allowed them to move freely across Japan, as shrine maidens were often called to perform rituals or deliver blessings, gaining access to castles, temples, and other places of strategic importance. Unbeknownst to the outside world, these women were undergoing rigorous training in the arts of ninjutsu.

The training of kunoichi combined traditional shinobi techniques with skills tailored to their unique role as female operatives. Historical manuals such as the Bansenshukai (1676) and Shoninki (1681), though written after Chiyome’s time, describe methods that kunoichi likely employed.

They were taught hand-to-hand combat (taijutsu), swordsmanship (kenjutsu), and the use of concealed weapons like the tanto (dagger) and bo-shuriken (throwing spikes). They also learned the art of disguise, enabling them to blend into any environment as entertainers, servants, or wandering holy women.

One of their most deadly tools was poison. Chiyome’s kunoichi were trained in herbalism, crafting powders and tinctures that could incapacitate or kill. These poisons were hidden in hairpins, sashes, or small vials, always ready for use. Yet perhaps their most effective weapon was their ability to exploit societal expectations. In a world that underestimated women, kunoichi turned invisibility into power.

The influence of Chiyome’s network became evident during the 1560s and early 1570s. Historical chronicles such as the Kōyō Gunkan, a record of the Takeda clan’s strategies, hint at the existence of covert operatives who provided critical intelligence.

Kunoichi infiltrated rival courts, posing as entertainers or servants, and uncovered plans that could change the tide of battle. For example, during Shingen’s campaigns against Tokugawa Ieyasu in Mikawa Province, kunoichi reportedly sabotaged supply lines and spread disinformation, weakening enemy morale.

Mochizuki Chiyome’s story is a testament to ingenuity and resilience in a time of turmoil. Her kunoichi were not just spies; they were pioneers, carving out a place for themselves in a world that often sought to silence them. In their silence, they spoke volumes.

They moved unseen, but their impact shaped the course of history, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire fascination and respect centuries later. They were taught hand-to-hand combat (taijutsu), swordsmanship (kenjutsu), and the use of concealed weapons like the tanto (dagger) and bo-shuriken (throwing spikes).

They also learned the art of disguise, enabling them to blend into any environment as entertainers, servants, or wandering holy women.

One of their most deadly tools was poison. Chiyome’s kunoichi were trained in herbalism, crafting powders and tinctures that could incapacitate or kill. These poisons were hidden in hairpins, sashes, or small vials, always ready for use.

Yet perhaps their most effective weapon was their ability to exploit societal expectations. In a world that underestimated women, kunoichi turned invisibility into power.

The influence of Chiyome’s network became evident during the 1560s and early 1570s. Historical chronicles such as the Kōyō Gunkan, a record of the Takeda clan’s strategies, hint at the existence of covert operatives who provided critical intelligence. Kunoichi infiltrated rival courts, posing as entertainers or servants, and uncovered plans that could change the tide of battle.

During Shingen’s campaigns against Tokugawa Ieyasu in Mikawa Province, kunoichi reportedly sabotaged supply lines and spread disinformation, weakening enemy morale. Thus, turning the tide of battle toward Shingen.

Throughout history the Kunoichi has always been a well-kept secret for those who would take and keep power.