Hojo Masako ( Samurai )

Hōjō Masako was the wife of the first shogun of the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Minamoto no Yoritomo. Not only was she a female samurai, but she also played an essential role in politics. She even was the first onna-bugeisha to enter politics. After her husband’s death, she became a Buddhist nun, as many samurai widows did. But she still kept up her involvement in politics. Not only that, but she also played a key role in shaping the careers of her two sons, Minamoto no Yoriie and Minamoto no Sanetomo. Both went on to become Shōgun, with Yoriie holding the title for one year and Sanetomo ruling for sixteen.