Yaeko “Yae” Yamamoto Niijima is not very well known. She is not known here in the western world and she is known barely in her home country of Japan. This, to me, is a sad thing because Yae is one of the most remarkable women I have ever heard about. The daughter of a samurai, a teacher, a nurse and a warrior Yae should be better known than she is because her tale is one of strength, determination, grief, and forgiveness. A woman who took no guff and one that is finally being recognized for what she did. And I fee that it is time that the Joan of Arch of Aizu have her due because everyone should at least know a bit about this incredible woman. To understand who Yae Yamamoto is I have to go into her history a bit. Yae was born November 3, 1845
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As a young girl she wanted to learn to shoot and after much persistence her father agreed. She took this teaching to heart during the Boshin War as she not only helped the other women in the castle heal wounded solders, but she also participated in night raids and battled on the front lines. She held fast and strong as she tried to keep her family safe. When she converted and became engaged to Jo she had to deal with the scrutiny of others and she held her head high un-wavered in her decision. When Jo was trying to start up the University she stood by his side fighting along side him to achieve his dream. When she wanted to create the Women’s college he husband knew that she would not take no for an answer. When the women of the school wanted to learn what the men were learning she stood by them and allowed those lessons to be taught besides etiquette. As a nurse for the Red Cross she never backed down and always helped anyone who was hurt. Yae is a woman that many can look up to, it didn’t matter what her faith was if she had an idea she would push to get it done. Yae stood up to many people and held fast in her beliefs. She stood up to her father, to the soldiers, to the monks in the temples, and even to the governor of Kyoto she would not back down. And I think that is a very fine quality. She was someone who felt that her ideas should be heard no matter what the consequences were and I think that many people, men and women, should take a page from her book and keep to what they want to do no matter what people will say or
As a young girl she wanted to learn to shoot and after much persistence her father agreed. She took this teaching to heart during the Boshin War as she not only helped the other women in the castle heal wounded solders, but she also participated in night raids and battled on the front lines. She held fast and strong as she tried to keep her family safe. When she converted and became engaged to Jo she had to deal with the scrutiny of others and she held her head high un-wavered in her decision. When Jo was trying to start up the University she stood by his side fighting along side him to achieve his dream. When she wanted to create the Women’s college he husband knew that she would not take no for an answer. When the women of the school wanted to learn what the men were learning she stood by them and allowed those lessons to be taught besides etiquette. As a nurse for the Red Cross she never backed down and always helped anyone who was hurt. Yae is a woman that many can look up to, it didn’t matter what her faith was if she had an idea she would push to get it done. Yae stood up to many people and held fast in her beliefs. She stood up to her father, to the soldiers, to the monks in the temples, and even to the governor of Kyoto she would not back down. And I think that is a very fine quality. She was someone who felt that her ideas should be heard no matter what the consequences were and I think that many people, men and women, should take a page from her book and keep to what they want to do no matter what people will say or