Women Naginata Warriors, Gaurdians of the Chiyoda Palace, Covering the Retreat from a Burning Castle

A print depicting women naginata warriors defending the Chiyoda Palace — the imperial castle complex at the heart of Tokyo — covering a retreat from a burning structure. The subject draws on the historical tradition of samurai women who were trained in naginata (the long-bladed polearm) for the defense of their homes and domains. Chikanobu's depiction of women in this warrior role was characteristic of his broader interest in feminine martial capability, a subject that held particular resonance in the Meiji era as debates about women's roles in the modernizing state intensified.