Young warriors of Aizu

Three members-to-be of the famed Byakkotai* come to artillery (砲術 - hōjutsu) instructor Yamamoto Gonpachi (山本権八) to learn gunmanship.
...And they find themselves humbled by Yamamoto's daughter Yaeko** and her friend Asai Sayoko, whose character is based on historical figure Nakano Takeko***.
Aizu clan was reputed for military skills, and Aizu women of samurai descent are famed to have trained extensively in naginata (薙刀) and gunmanship, and have even gone to battle in the course of Aizu war.
from "Byakkotai" (白虎隊) 2007
Please read more about Nakano Takeko and her later called "Jōshitai", The Boshin war and the Battle of Aizu.
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*White Tiger Battalion, a detachment of young men of 16 to 17 of age who would fight and find death in the Aizu Battle.
**Yamamoto Yaeko (also known later as Niijima Yae) is another famous character of the period.
***Tragic heroine of the Aizu Battle, she is said to have taken the head of a women battalion (the Jōshitai - 娘子隊) armed with naginata against Imperial troops.