Sylum Inspiration: Nakano Takeko

Shogun: Hunter

Nakano, born in Edo, was the daughter of Nakano Heinai, an Aizu official. She was thoroughly trained in the martial and literary arts, and was adopted by her teacher Akaoka Daisuke. After working with her adoptive father as a martial arts instructor during the 1860s, Nakano entered Aizu for the first time in 1868.

During the Battle of Aizu, she fought with a naginata and was the leader of an ad hoc corps of female combatants who fought in the battle independently, as the senior Aizu retainers did not allow them to fight as an official part of the domain’s army. This unit was later retroactively called the Women’s Army (娘子隊 Jōshitai).

While leading a charge against Imperial Japanese Army troops of the Ōgaki Domain  she was fatally shot in the chest. Rather than let the enemy capture her head as a trophy, she asked her sister, Yūko, to cut it off and have it buried. It was taken to Hōkai Temple and buried under a pine tree.

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She had caught the attention of Katsumoto, and he had sent Lady Blossom to find more about the woman warrior.  Through their meeting, Nakano learned about Vampires. She became intrigued and soon sought out Blossom to discuss being Turned.