Because everyone had such fun counting up their favorite genderswap girls, elf girls, and even dark elf girls, let’s all take a look at the girls who can hold their own with a mean katana, the samurai girls. The ladies who can cut down their foes and look good whilst doing it demand some respect and admiration, too.
1. Tomoe — Queen’s Blade
The ladies from Queen’s Blade made these lists a lot, don’t they. This series has a waifu for everyone.
Tomoe was potentially named after the real-life female samurai Tomoe Gozen. She is a miko from Hinomoto who entered the titular Queen’s Blade tournament to save her homeland from a calamity, and possibly its corrupt leadership.
Queen’s Blade first began its sexy tournament as a series of visual combat books published by Hobby Japan. There were numerous manga, light novels, and anime adaptations that cultured fans could enjoy.
2. Jubei Yagyu — Hyakka Ryouran
One of a few samurai series that take historical figures and genderswap them in some manner. In this series, Jubei Yagyu is a samurai girl with superhuman abilities. She, like the rest of the samurai girl harem, partners with Muneakira Yagyu, though she becomes a Samurai Bride at some point.
Hyakka Ryouran first entered Great Japan’s Buou Academic School as a light novel series written by Akira Suzuki and illustrated by Niθ to commemorate Hobby Japan’s 40th anniversary. The series ran from February 28th, 2009 to January 26th, 2014, reaching a total of seventeen volumes. It was also adapted to anime and manga formats.
3. Rin Kamishiro — Maburaho
I feel some eyes judging this one, so give me a chance to explain. Maburaho is a harem magical girl series where a lot of impossibly attractive girls want to jump a guy for his genes because of his magical heritage. However, Rin isn’t one of them, not at first. Her clan ordered her to jump Kazuki for his genes so their clan could benefit from the incredibly powerful offspring. Rin decided to do the exact opposite and try to kill him with her magic and samurai skills, because she wasn’t selling herself out like that. Eventually, Kazuki won her over with genuine kindness, and she gained real feelings for him.
Maburaho began its magic school tenure as a light novel series written by Toshihiko Tsukiji and illustrated by Eiji Komatsu. Fujimi Shobo published the series between August 2000 and January 2011, in a total of 30 volumes. It was adapted to anime and manga formats, though the anime ending differs from the original light novel plot.
4. Nobuna Oda — The Ambition of Oda Nobuna (Oda Nobuna no Yabo)
Another series with historical figures as cute and sexy girls. In yet another alternate take on Japanese history, there the top member of the Oda clan is Nobuna Oda, as Nobunaga does not exist. Yoshiharu Sagara travels to the past by unknown means, and the legendary Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies to protect him. Worried about the changes being made to the Sengoku period, Yoshiharu sets about trying to ensure events happen as they did before. He starts by working under Nobuna, who shares Nobunaga’s position and power, and most importantly, his goals.
Nobuna began her conquest as a light novel series written by Mikage Kasuga and illustrated by Miyama-Zero.
SoftBank Creative, and later Fujimi Shobo, published the series from August 15th, 2009 to June 20th, 2019, in a total of 22 volumes. The series received manga and anime adaptations.
5. Masamune Date — Sengoku Collection
Yes, another series that turned a historical figure into a sexy lady. This one turned Masamune Date into a tan girl that wears revealing clothing. I should have added these girls into the genderswap article. Masamune, like the other Sengoku-era warlords, is transported to the modern day by unknown means. She was tricked into being an enforcer for the yakuza, and gets arrested by the police during a drug bust. She escapes and defeats the yakuza boss who tricked her, and later agrees to have a duel with Nobunaga herself with their Secret Treasures at stake.
Nobunaga and her fellow female warlords landed in modern day Japan in a mobile game made by Konami. The anime adaptation, made by Brain’s Base, created an entirely new plotline, which was outlined in his section. The original story was just a card battler that had a thin plot to begin with.
6. Chifusa Manyuu — Manyuu Hikenchou (Magic Breast Secret Sword Scroll)
This series is all about a samurai girl with a large bust, in a world where women with large busts rule, and those with smaller chest sizes are treated like peasants, so of course this is on the list.
Chifusa Manyuu is the heir to the Manyuu (Magical Breasts) clan, the people who enforce the rule that only women with large breasts may succeed. Chifusa despises the system her family built, and steals the Scroll of Secrets which contains techniques to enlarge breasts. Chifusa herself can manipulate bust sizes with the Breast Flow (Chichi-nagare) technique. Despite her resentment of the system, women with large cup sizes tend to mesmerize her. It doesn’t help that some assassins sent after her are well-rounded.
Chifusa began wielding the mighty E-cup weapons in a manga series written and illustrated by Hideki Yamada. Enterbrain published the series between March 24th, 2007 and January 25th, 2012, in a total of seven volumes. This busty series was later adapted to anime.
7. Kaori Kanzaki — A Certain Magical Index (Toaru Majutsu no Index)
Kaori is known as the Saint of the Far East, and she is one of the most formidable magicians in the series, wielding both a samurai sword and magic with great skill and precision. She also has a crush on Touma Kamijou, to the point where she would wear lewd cosplays for him. For some reason, he was more traumatized than incensed to act upon the lewd attire, which is just baffling.
Kaori first swung a mighty blade in the light novel series written by Kazuma Kamachi and illustrated by Kiyotaka Haimura. ASCII Media Works published the series from April 10th, 2004 to October 10th, 2010, in a total of 22 volumes. There were numerous adaptations, including manga, anime, and even a video game.
8. Jiyu Nanohana — Jubei-chan: The Ninja Girl (Jubei-chan, or Jubei-chan: Lovely Gantai no Himitsu, or Jubei-chan: Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch)
Before you run to the comments and say “even the title says that Jubei is a ninja girl,” hear me out: that’s the localization team at “work.” The Japanese title is simply Jubei-chan, with an additional title that’s just Jubei-chan: Secret of the Lovely Eyepatch. Jiyu gains the power and skills of Jubei Yagyu, who was a samurai. So yes, Jiyu is a samurai girl when she equips the heart-shaped eyepatch.
300 years ago, Jubei Yagyu ordered his companion Koinosuke to find an heir to his power, someone with large breasts. Based, even on his deathbed. In the present day, Koinosuke finds Jiyu, whom many call Jubei due to her name being similar. Although she often resists his attempts to turn her into the new Jubei, Jiyu has no choice but to fight if she wants to survive against an ancient family grudge.
The following season introduces Jubei Yagyu’s Russian daughter, who has a spade-shaped eyepatch.
Jiyu first became a badass samurai girl (not a ninja girl!) in an anime series created by Akitaro Daichi, who also worked on Fruits Basket and Tsukikage Ran. Madhouse aired season one from April 5th, 1999 to June 28th, 1999, in a total of thirteen episodes. Season two arrived much later, airing between January 7th, 2004 through March 31st, 2004, in another thirteen episodes.
9. Shinobu Kocho — Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba (Kimetsu no Yaiba, or Blade of Demon Destruction)
No list of samurai girls would be complete without the pretty butterfly girl. Shinobu Kocho is the Insect Hashira (Pillar), capable of Insect Breathing. Her body is flooded with poisons that she is immune to. She appears to be calm, tranquil, and friendly, but her true demeanor is far different: she absolutely hates and despises demons for the deaths of her sister, her parents, and many of her family members. She lives to wipe out all demons in existence.
Shinobu first breathed a lovely poison in the world-famous Kimetsu no Yaiba manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotouge. Shueisha published the series from February 15th, 2016 through to May 18th, 2020, in a total of 23 volumes. There have been a lot of adaptations, and it could take another whole article to discuss them all.
10. Nobunaga Oda — Battle Girls: Time Paradox (Sengoku Otome: Momoiro Paradox, or Warring States Maidens: Pink Paradox)
We save the best for last, a genderswapped Nobunaga Oda. Dressed in as little armor as possible, she is still as deadly and ambitious as she is sexy. Again, another girl I should have put in that genderswap article.
The main character is Yoshino Hide, who gains the nickname “Hideyoshi” due to how her name looks in Japanese, Hide Yoshino, and her skill in combat. She finds herself in an alternate version of Sengoku era Japan, where everyone is a woman. She first meets Lady Oda, and is made her retainer. Yoshino agrees to help Nobunaga find the pieces of a Crimson Armor that will help her conquer the land.
Lady Oda began conquering the land with pure wit, guile, and a sexy body in the CR Sengoku Otome pachinko game series developed by Heiwa. Hideki Okamoto directed the anime adaptation, which was produced by TMS Entertainment, and aired from April 5th, 2011 to June 27th, 2011, in a total of thirteen episodes. There was also a video game adaptation for the PlayStation Vita in 2016.
Who’s your favorite samurai girl? Vote in our Samurai Girl Showdown and let us know. Hajime!
Bonus: Kazama Iroha — Hololive
Kazama is Secret Society holoX’s bodyguard and general security team, though she also takes on missions from holoX. She is also considered the most seiso (wholesome) member of holoX and Hololive in general. Kazama originally lived in a remote mountainous area, but she left home to explore the world.
The J-List shop has a ton of Hololive merch, for those interested in adoring their oshi in person.
If an admirer of lovely and deadly samurai maidens were to be looking for a new addition to their collection of other lovely maidens, they need only look to the Shana 1/7 20th Anniversary KDcolle Figure Burning-Eyed Beauty ver. SP Set. The titular Shana of Shakugan no Shana may not technically be a samurai, but she is lovely and powerful.
Do you appreciate lethal and lovely samurai girls? Who is your favorite girl on the list? Did we miss any important battle maidens? Let us know in the comments below or via our Showdown poll.
