As it’s one of my favorite festivals of the year since it’s just so colorful and historically accurate, let’s look at a giant breakdown of who played who what made these women famous! All images are courtesy of Emi Blue unless otherwise stated. They’ve allowed me to upload some special shots, so please enjoy!
Tomoe Gozen (巴御前) - Satomi (里美) of Gion Kobu
What isn’t there to love about Tomoe Gozen? Sure, she was on the losing side of the Genpei War that resulted in the first Kamakura Shogunate in the 13th century, but she was so respected by her opponents that she was written about for ages to come. Her martial prowess was legendary and her husband/leader of the Heike Clan, Minamoto no Yoshinaka, once stated that she was worth a thousand soldiers on the battlefield. Her weapon of choice in combat was the naginata, a long halberd that Satomi is carrying in the parade. Even more impressive is that the naginata wasn’t even her best weapon! She was said to be the most deadly with a bow as she could accurately hit a target from far distances and reload in the blink of an eye. Not only that, but she was apparently very beautiful as well! She’s the entire package of battle hardened warrior and profound beauty, so it’s no surprise that she is still remembered to this day.
Yokobue (横笛) - Yuriha (ゆり葉) of Tama (多麻) in Gion Kobu
She’s a bit of an enigma as her real name has been lost to time, but she was also alive during the Genpei War. Yokobue was a flute player in the court of Empress Kenreimon’in. A man named Takaguchi fell in love with her, but his father forbids him from marrying her as she was a mere courtier and he was a soldier from a prominent family. To deal with his loss at not being able to be with her, Takaguchi shaves his head and becomes a monk. Yokobue then tracks him down at a monastery and begs to speak with him one last time, to which he obliges. After this she flings herself from a cliff as she could not bear to live without him. Takaguchi then finds her body, cremates her remains, and brings them with him to Mount Koya, a very famous spot for Japanese Buddhism, and lives the rest of his days in silence. Yokobue gets her name from a type of flute that she presumably played.
Sei Shōnagon (清少納言) and Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部) - Kokimi (小喜美) of Masuume (桝梅) and Mayuha (満友葉) of Tama (多麻) in Gion Kobu
Since these two characters always ride together it’s only right to talk about them at the same time. Both were contemporaries of each other and high ranking nobles. Sei served Empress Teishi while Murasaki served Empress Soshi, the second empress. Murasaki is best known for writing was is considered the first novel, The Tale of Genji, while Sei wrote an equally famous book of rumors and intrigue at the royal palace called The Pillow Book. Both Sei and Murasaki are pen names and their real names have remained a mystery to this day. There is speculation as to who they may have been, but there has yet to be definitive proof. As the two ladies served in the same court they forged a notorious rivalry that is legendary among the Heian court and Japanese history in general.
Ki No Tsurayuki Musume/Onna (紀貫之の女) - Tatsuha (多都葉) of Tama (多麻) in Gion Kobu
Not too much is known about this female poet, but her poetry was said to be on the level of Ki No Tsurayuki, the name of an already famous male poet.
Ono No Komachi (小野小町) and Female Attendant (侍女): Fumino (章乃) and Shino (紫乃) of Fukushima (福嶋) in Gion Kobu
Ono No Komachi is considered one of the greatest waka poets in history and, as such, is a member of the Rokkasen (六歌仙), The Six Poet Gods. Like most of the other ladies on this list, her real name also remains unknown, but she was a courtier and had a decently high status. She is one of the oldest of the women portrayed here as she was active in the 9th century.
Wake No Hiromushi (和気広虫) - Katsugiku (佳つ菊) of Odamoto (小田本) in Gion Kobu
Hiromushi was a courtier to Empress Shotoku, one of the only female emperors to ever reign over Japan. She would often be dispatched on official business for the empress and was among her most loyal retainers. Hiromushi even became a nun in her later years, but remained a trusted advisor to the empress. Her brother, Wake No Kiyomaru, was usually sent in her stead for long business trips in her older age as she had frail health. She was alive during the 8th century when much of Japanese fashion was inspired by Chinese courtiers. The girls behind her playing the roles of courtiers are not maiko or geiko, but rather ordinary women who live in Kyoto.
Shizuka Gozen (静御前) - Umeha (梅葉) of Umeno (梅乃) in Kamishichiken
An excellent artist in her own right, she was the lover of Minamoto No Yoshitsune, the man who eventually helped his brother win the Genpei War. Shizuka was a Shirabyōshi, a female dancer who entertained those of the high court. While fleeing with Yoshitsune after a fight with his brother, the shogun Yoritomo, Shizuka was captured and made to dance for the new military leader. Instead of performing older pieces she sang and danced about her love for Yoshitsune. Although Yoritomo was furious, her life was saved by Hōjō Masako, his wife, and she allowed Shizuka to live out her life in the court. However, within a year she soon gave birth to Yoshitsune’s child, a boy, who was executed so that he could not take revenge for his father. In her grief Shizuka killed herself by drowning in a river at the age of 19.
Lady Yodogimi (淀君) and her Four Attendants (侍女) - Umeshizu (梅志づ) of Ichi (市), with Ichitaka (市多佳) of Ichi (市), Naokinu (尚絹) of Nakasato (中里), Umehina (梅ひな) of Umeno (梅乃), and Fumiyuki (ふみ幸) of Katsufumi (勝ふみ). Third picture is courtesy of Katsufumi.
Concubine and later second wife to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of the three unifiers of Japan, she was the “mother” of the nation as she also gave birth to Hideyoshi’s successor, Hideyori. However, this was not to last as Hideyoshi would be killed and the young Hideyori was forced to sign a pact with Tokugawa Ieyasu in order to keep his family safe. This forced their move to Osaka Castle, where Yodogimi basically ruled the land in peace for over a decade. In a bid for power Ieyasu eventually betrayed Hideyori so that he could take control over all of Japan, and Hideyori and Yodogimi committed suicide once Osaka Castle was surrendered to Ieyasu.
Abutsu Ni (阿仏尼) - Katsune (勝音) of Daimonji (大文字) in Kamishichiken
Image courtesy of Prado9991.
An excellent poet and lady-in-waiting to Empress Ankamon’in, she married a fellow poet, Fujiwara no Tameie and had two sons with him. Upon the death of her husband she became a nun, but her story was not over. When one of her son’s inheritance was in dispute she traveled to Kamakura, the capital of Japan at the time, to plead her case with the shogun. Her poems and letters from this time were compiled into what is considered her greatest work, The Diary of The Waning Moon. Sadly, she died of old age before the matter could be settled.
Not Pictured: Tokiwa Gozen (常盤御前) - Koyō (小耀) of Hiroshimaya (廣島屋) in Gion Kobu
The embodiment of grace and beauty, Tokiwa was the wife of Minamoto No Yoshitomo and mother of Yoshitsune. She is best known for her courageous and selfless act of sheltering her three sons while fleeing during a snowstorm; this gained her the nickname “The Female Buddha.” However, she was eventually captured by Taira No Kiyomori and became his concubine in order to protect her sons. Later she married Fujiwara No Naganari and quietly lived out the rest of her days. Once I find a decent picture I will update this feature.
Most information was sourced from Wikipedia, with additional information gathered from here, here, and here ^^
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