Amager – Onna-Musha

IPA – 440ml – 7%abv

Most have probably heard of the Samurai – the feared Japanese warrior class. But have you heard of the Onna-musha? Probably not. The Onna-musha were female, Japanese warriors, just as skilled, deadly and powerful as their male counterparts. While Japan may traditionally be seen as a very patriarchal and macho society, it wasn’t always like that. In the past it wasn’t unusual to see a woman rise to be Empress. One such was Empress Jingū who ruled around year 200 after the death of her husband. With a lady regnant, the Onna-musha became both more numerous and prominent, and at some point, there were several female cavalry regiments spread across the Empire. Their task ranged from guarding and protecting castles and villages to training younger women in the use of weaponry and the art of war. With the rise of neo-Confucianism, the status of the Onna-musha began to crumble in spite of their proven strength and success on the battlefield. And the changed societal views forced women into more subservient roles. So, while the legend of the Samurai survived, the tales of the proud Onna-musha disappeared in the mists of history.