The Way of the Samurai Women

Who were the Samurai women, and what might Samurai spirit look like today?

When Rimika's mother Akemi Tanaka died in 2021, she decided to continue the work her mother had been doing to research their family's Samurai heritage, and then set out to try and put into practice what she learned about Samurai women to help her live more fully today.

In recent decades, the Samurai have been made famous by ongoing movies, comics, computer games, and even fashion - and also in the hands of businessmen looking for a skillset for productivity, resilience and other macho ideals. But some Samurai, in particular the Samurai left behind to defend the homestead, were always women. In this book, Rimika explores how we, today, can reclaim their ancient wisdom, much of it held in the great and popular philosophical tradition of Zen Buddhism, for our times and in a more inclusive and holistic way.

Readers will discover the inspirational example of historical Samurai women, alongside contemporary women who possess the Samurai spirit. The book delves into concepts which allowed Samurai to survive: for example, Zen meditation, nature worship, and mindful movement. Along the way, the book offers prompts and exercises to help the reader to channel the wisdom of Samurai women.