Line #66 Main/NaginatasAreFeminine


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10	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/NinjaGaiden https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/momiji_ninja_gaiden.png]]]]
11	[[caption-width-right:350:Japanese beauty, elegance and lethality.]]
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13	A naginata is a Japanese polearm similar to a glaive, characterized by a long, curved blade with a handguard. In Japanese works especially, naginatas are a common weapon for a female close-range fighter. In works that don't stress the relatively subtle difference between weapons, it may be generalized to simply "spear" rather than a naginata.
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15	In terms of fighting ability, a naginata is no more or less suitable a weapon for a woman than a katana. Both are weapons that favor skill and training over brute strength. So why is one more feminine than the other?
16	Naginatas are battlefield weapons, while katanas are self defense weapons. It’s the difference between a pistol and a rifle -- a katana is like a pistol: less effective, but you can carry it with you at all times. A naginata is like a rifle: you only bring it if you intend to use it. Since women in feudal Japan were expected to keep the home, it was not an issue for them to always have a naginata at hand. Add in the connotations of purity and fragility that fighting from farther away implies, and you end up with a very "feminine" weapon (that is still capable of disemboweling a person with one good swing). Can be considered a downplayed version of GuysSmashGirlsShoot, in that the woman in question is still using a melee weapon, but one that maintains a reasonable distance and requires much less brutal, close-quarters combat fighting than a sword, axe, or mace would. The aforementioned length of the naginata also reduces the negative effect of a shorter woman's lower reach compared to a man.
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18	This has its roots in Japanese history. Though naginatas were common weapons among [[AThicketOfSpears the spearmen of commoner infantry divisions]], they also found a place as a symbol of status for samurai's wives. A young noblewoman was trained in the naginata as a weapon to defend the home of her future husband, especially during the violent and treacherous UsefulNotes/SengokuPeriod. Naginatas were often part of a samurai woman or ''onna-musha'''s dowry, and a girl skilled in the naginata was considered quite the attractive bride to potential suitors[[note]]More precisely, the weapon rose to prominence in the Genpei War and saw plenty of use in the hands of male warriors for years until the yari spear became more popular in the later Sengoku period, after which the naginata became relegated solely to the use of samurai's wives and gained its iconic image, particularly during the peaceful Edo period[[/note]]. Being a submissive wife but a stalwart defender of the home was considered the embodiment of the YamatoNadeshiko ideal. This association with nobility and femininity is the reason the naginata is a common [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]] for a LadyOfWar.
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20	Of course, there's some ValuesDissonance with this not being a DiscreditedTrope due to its origins. It's like how TextileWorkIsFeminine [[Anime/YourName could just casually appear in one of the most famous recent films in Japan]] when it just reaches parody levels elsewhere.
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22	Even to this day, ''atarashii naginata'' is a common after-school activity in Japan, though now young girls practice kendo and archery more often, compared to before.
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24	Oftentimes the naginata-user is contrasted by a man (or [[TomboyAndGirlyGirl boyish girl]]) who uses a more traditional weapon, highlighting the femininity inherent in this trope.
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26	Contrast AThicketOfSpears and JoustingLance for more military and stereotypically masculine uses of naginatas and other polearms.
27	----
28	!!Examples
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30	[[foldercontrol]]
31
32	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
33	* ''Manga/{{Asahinagu}}'' is entirely about a women's ''atarashii naginata'' club.
34	* As part of her YamatoNadeshiko setup, Aika of ''Manga/BlendS'' probably carries this whenever she leaves her household, so Episode 9 shows one time when she actually wielded it to threaten [[ButtMonkey Dino]].
35	* In the TournamentArc of ''[[Manga/Brave10 Brave10 S]]'', there are a lot of spear-wielders running around, but the one with the naginata specifically is Komatsu, Sanada Nobuyuki's wife.
36	* ''Literature/FateZero'': Irisviel waves around a naginata quite comically several times in the anime adaptation's ''Please! Einzbern Consultation Room'' comedy shorts.
37	* Takiko Ohkuda aka Genbu no Miko in ''Manga/FushigiYuugiGenbuKaiden'' took naginatajutsu classes during her time as an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent, and in fact she's first seen defeating the local AlphaBitch Touyama during practice. When she becomes TrappedInAnotherWorld, she has a naginata made for her.
38	* Referenced, but ultimately subverted in ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'' with the Tengen Ryuu of Naginata jutsu. Even if one character says that "the naginata is a weak weapon, only women use it" and another one teases his naginata-wielding opponent saying that it's a weapon for sissies, Baian Maki and his master Toujou Shungaku notes (and demonstrate) that a properly wielded naginata can become the strongest and most versatile melee weapon of all. To drive the point home it's worth mentioning that Toujou is one of the strongest warriors of the Muhou School and likely of the whole series.
39	* Otae from ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'' is set up to be a traditional YamatoNadeshiko and has several of the feminine aspects, including the naginata... but as it turns out is also [[{{Tsundere}} violent]] and a poor cook.
40	* In ''Webcomic/HetaliaAxisPowers'', the {{Gender Flip}}ped version of Japan carries a tanto dagger. Her [=2P=] version, however, [[http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/2p-hetalia/images/31977691/title/2p-fem-hetalia-photo has a naginata instead.]]
41	* ''Anime/HighSchoolOfTheDead'' has a subversion in Rei Miyamoto, who looks like she'll play the trope straight... but those who look closely will notice that she's not in the ''naginatajutsu'' club of her school, in the ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soujutsu soujutsu]]'' one (which is kind of unusual for high schools). So, technically, her initial [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]] is a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yari yari]] rather than a ''naginata''.
42	* Kan-U from ''Manga/IkkiTousen'' is the only character in the first season who regularly uses a weapon. In her case, it's justified, as she's a reincarnation of Guan Yu, a massive badass who was well-known for his skill with the spear.
43	* [[TheOjou Kaguya]] from ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' is mentioned to be skilled at naginata-jutsu, [[InformedAbility though she's never actually shown wielding one]].
44	* ActionGirl Atena in ''Manga/KamuiDen'' is a naginata master.
45	* Played with in ''Manga/LoneWolfAndCub''. The protagonist uses a naginata (disguised as part of a baby carriage), and is extremely manly. Various female or young protagonists, however, use it.
46	* Inverted in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'', where the man, Zest, wields a spear while his two female opponents, Vita and Signum, wield a [[CarryABigStick hammer]] and a [[CoolSword sword]], respectively. And he kicks as many as asses than them, if not even more.
47	* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'': The Rising Gundam, based off of the main character's Shining Gundam, is designed with a [[HotBlade heat naginata]] rather than the original's [[LaserBlade beam sabers]] (as well as a [[GuysSmashGirlsShoot Rising Arrow]] rather than a [[FacepalmOfDoom Shining Finger]]). While theoretically built for a male pilot, it winds up being piloted only by Domon's partner and love interest Rain Mikamura, in her and [[spoiler: Allenby]]'s DesignatedGirlFight and is associated with Rain in merchandise and video games.
48	** Averted in the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', however. The hulking MS-14 Gelgoog carries a double-bladed [[LaserBlade beam naginata]] but apart from its skirt-like lower-torso armor, it has a unisex design and if anything its thick limbs and torso relative to the hero's slender RX-78 Gundam gives it a masculine impression (although a large number of named pilots who use them in sequels and spinoffs are female, such as ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'''s Cima Garahau).
49	* Shizuru Fujino's Element in the ''Anime/MyHime'' anime (she doesn't fight in [[Manga/MyHime the manga]]) is a large naginata whose blade doubles as a WhipSword.
50	* Inverted in ''Manga/OnePiece'': Whitebeard, one of the manliest men[[note]]Indeed, he actually [[StayInTheKitchen refuses to let women into his crew]] as anything except medics.[[/note]] in a series that already [[RatedMForManly runs on testosterone]] and the WorldsStrongestMan uses a naginata. Well, more accurately, a bisento. The blade is shorter, but wider compared to a naginata. With "shorter" being relative since his spear is sized to match [[LargeAndInCharge his 6.7 meter (22 feet) height]].
51	** Hannyabal is another inversion. His [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]] is a naginata called Kessui, but the last adjective one would describe him with is "feminine".
52	** In the Totland arc, Queen chess soldiers are armed with double-bladed naginata.
53	* Naginatas are the main weapons manufactured and wielded by the women of Tataraba/Iron Town in ''Anime/PrincessMononoke''.
54	* Soun Tendo of ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' is most frequently seen using a naginata, at least in the anime. This is both a play on the fact he's the most emotional (indeed, hysterical) person in the cast, and on the fact that one of the most prominent classical schools of ''naginatajutsu'' is named "Tendo-ryu."
55	* Azumi Kiribayishi ''Manga/RealBoutHighSchool'', an HeirToTheDojo LadyOfWar with a NoblewomansLaugh, wields a naginata. Well, okay, most of the time, she uses one with a wooden blade, but isn't averse to busting out a real one for "serious" fights.
56	* #87 Kaho from ''Manga/{{Sekirei}}'' is a LadyOfWar that uses a naginata to produce RazorWind. She's noted to be exceptionally strong, and provides a backstory example of TomboyAndGirlyGirl for her childhood friend, [[TheChosenOne Musubi]].
57	* Played with in ''Manga/ShugoChara''. [[YamatoNadeshiko Nadeshiko Fujisaki]] from uses one when [[PowersViaPossession chara changing]] with [[{{Yandere}} Temari]]. The twist comes into play when Nadeshiko is revealed to [[spoiler:[[WholesomeCrossDresser really be a guy]] named Nagihiko. Given that Temari is born from Nadeshiko/Nagihiko's desire to become a graceful dancer, it still equates the naginata with femininity.]]
58	* In ''Anime/SummerWars'', when extremely angered, Granny Sakae picks up a naginata hanging on the wall and uses it to threaten her wayward son, and shows some considerable skill in wielding it, especially given her age. It fits her characterization as a traditional Japanese matriarch. Unfortunately, she is very elderly, and swinging that thing around even for a few seconds takes quite a toll on her body.
59	* When Tenchi or his grandfather uses the weapon Tenchi in ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' (... that's not confusing), it's used as a sword with a LaserBlade. When his mother Achika uses it in the first movie, its handle extends to naginata-like lengths.
60	* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann: [[HighSchoolAU Gurren Gakuen-hen]]'', Yoko carries around a naginata in place of her rifle. No one seems to mind her pulling it out on school grounds.
61	* Satsuki Amamiya from ''Manga/TwinkleSaberNova'' is the most [[LadyOfWar feminine and graceful member]] of the Ally of Justice Club and her signature weapon is a naginata.
62	* In ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'', Onimaru's sister brandishes a Naginata when she prepares to take on Yaiba for insulting her brother. Later on the female wandering warrior [[PunnyName Nadeshiko Yamato]] uses a bamboo naginata as her weapon of choice, and manages to defeat the Mine Dojo alone.
63	[[/folder]]
64
65	[[folder:Comic Books]]
66	* Thoroughly averted with Noburo, the ''very'' masculine LightningBruiser of ''ComicBook/{{Okko}}'s'' party of demon hunters, for whom the naginata is the weapon of choice.
67	* ComicBook/UsagiYojimbo's long time friend Tomoe Ame began her career wielding a naginata. She had learned the sword from her swordmaster father but could not use them because she was a lady. By saving her lord from a ninja attack she was appointed "guardian of the heir" and was allowed to again wear her swords.
68	* Toyota from ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' [[DualWield dual wields]] naginatas, which eventually ends up backfiring against her when the ActionGirl defender (who was tied up at the time) gets a chance to swipe one and face her off in a duel.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Literature]]
72	* Hideyoshi Kinoshita's Summoned Beast from ''Literature/BakaAndTestSummonTheBeasts'' wields a naginata, though he is actually male. Given his personality, behavior, and [[DudeLooksLikeALady appearance]], however, it still equates the naginata with femininity. His upgraded Summoned Beast ditches the naginata in favor of a katana.
73	* In ''Literature/BeyondTheBoundary'', LadyOfWar Izumi wields a naginata.
74	* In ''Literature/CityOfAshes'', Isabelle walks in with her trademark whip and a naginata. When Alec asks if the naginata is for him, she tells him to get his own weapon, promptly giving it to their mother.
75	* A cultural convention very similar to this crops up briefly in the ''Literature/CodexAlera'', where it is mentioned that spears are the traditional weapon of females (especially those of high rank) in the [[WolfMan Canim]] warrior caste. The Canim in general also have a feudal culture and martial ethos that, while not identical to that of feudal Japan, bears strong similarities to it.
76	* One of the protagonists of Hiroshi Aramata's classic fantasy novel ''Literature/TeitoMonogatari'' is a heroic shrine maiden equipped with a naginata.
77	* A western fantasy example in Tamora Pierce's ''Literature/TortallUniverse'' books, specifically the ''Protector of the Small'' books. Keladry is trained in them, and her mother once helped hold off a pirate invasion with one. They're specifically mentioned as a weapon woman train in the Yamani isles, which are based on Japan. Should be noted that Keladry is considered masculine by Tortall standards (being the first female Knight after Alanna) but is also ''very'' deadly with it. She later teaches a bunch of orphans of ''both'' genders how to use a spear improvised to be like one to fight with them. Quite a few people comment on them, particularly on how ''deadly'' they look -- and how fast Kel is with them.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder: Live Action TV]]
81
82	* In ''Series/Shogun2024'', when Lord Toranaga's entourage is attacked as they're trying to escape to a harbour, the previously demure, elegant Lady Mariko springs into action, grabbing a naginata from a rack and demonstrating her proficiency with the weapon, using its additional length to keep katana-wielding soldiers out of reach and slicing at their vulnerable points with great skill.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
86	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': In the ''Oriental Adventures'' 1985 supplement, the description of the naginata says that it "is often the preferred weapon of women".
87	* ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'': The naginata tends to be the preferred weapon of Shiba Tsukune and other female samurai of the Phoenix Clan.
88	* In a transliteration for ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', the western cousin to this weapon, the glaive, is the sacred weapon of Shelyn, Goddess of Love and Beauty, who is worshipped both in the western continents of Avistan (corresponding to Europe) and Garund (Africa) and in the eastern continent of Tian Xia. Strangely the actual naginata is favored by a male deity, Fumeiyoshi, the Tien god of undeath and dishonor.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Toys]]
92	* Jinx the Japanese female ninja in ''Franchise/GIJoe'': almost all toy versions of the character include a dual bladed naginata as her primary weapon. Strangely, she is rarely seen using one in most media appearances.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Video Games]]
96	* ''VideoGame/AgeOfEmpiresIV'': The Japanese civilization introduced in ''The Sultans Ascend'' ExpansionPack can train Onna-Bugeisha, who are warrior women who wield naginatas into battle to defend their homes.
97	* ''VideoGame/ArenaOfValor'': Actually inverted. There's a naginata user named Ryoma, but he's basically a classical Japanese rugged and manly man, complete with beard and alternate skins like being a Yakuza. On the other hand, there's also a Japanese MasterSwordsman named Tachi, he used a katana and... he's an long haired effeminate DudeLooksLikeALady voiced by a female in the Japanese dub. Therefore, in Athanor, naginata is for the manly and rugged warrior, while the feminine warrior uses a katana.
98	* ''VideoGame/ConquerorsBlade'': ''Season XVI: [[UsefulNotes/SengokuPeriod Sengoku]]'' introduced the Onna-Musha, a unit of [[LadyOfWar noble-born warrior women]] who use naginatas.
99	** The same season also featured a naginata-styled Glaive skin, the Great Sanada, whose lore reveals that it was used by women in defense of their village during the Sengoku wars.
100	* In ''VideoGame/DragaliaLost'', the event welfare character Botan is seen wielding a naginata in her splash art. Her epithet is even "Naginata Cutie".
101	* ''VideoGame/ExistArchive:'' Ranze is from a wealthy aristocratic family, and has been training with the naginata since childhood.
102	* In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' the whole reason why Kiyohime's Summer Lancer version exists is so that she can be a yandere version of this trope.
103	** Jaguar Warrior's third and final ascensions go from a silly cat costume and a paw-on-a-stick to a stylish black pantsuit and a naginata.
104	** Naturally, as one of Japan's TropeMaker of LadyOfWar[=/=]Onna Bugeisha, UsefulNotes/TomoeGozen uses a naginata that she sets on fire, if she's not shooting you with flaming arrows or doing submission holds.
105	* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', characters from the Japan-influenced Hoshido have naginatas in the place where the Europe-influenced Nohr has lances. 6 of the 9 characters that wield naginatas immediately upon recruitment are female, and the males that wield them include an {{Expy}} [[SpearCounterpart of a]] ''[[SpearCounterpart female]]'' [[SpearCounterpart character]] from ''Awakening'' and an effeminate {{Bishonen}} that the tie-in card game invoked DudeLooksLikeALady on (Subaki) [[note]][On the third route, there's a secret character from Hoshido that can wield naginatas immediately, but this is because he's a master of the entire weapon triangle. Furthermore, on the one route where his boss appearance doesn't have him wielding all three weapon types, it's the naginata that's missing.][[/note]] (This is only a technicality, of course, as Nohrian lances and Hoshidan naginatas are interchangeable in gameplay terms and Nohrians with lances lean 6-4 in favor of males.)
106	* One of the heroes from ''VideoGame/ForHonor'' is the Nobushi, a samurai hero using a nagitana and she is gender-locked to female.
107	* [[StringyHairedGhostGirl Hisako]] from ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'' uses a naginata alongside her [[OminousVisualGlitch ghostly powers.]] It originally belonged to her father, but she [[TakeUpMySword took it after he was killed by a group of bandits]] and finished them off.
108	* In ''VideoGame/{{Genshin Impact}}'', Raiden Shogun's main signature weapon is a naginata, which is a polearm weapon and is what she mainly uses to fight, but would sometimes pull out her katana from her chest.
109	* In ''VideoGame/{{Kuon}}'', secret character [[spoiler: UsefulNotes/AbeNoSeimei ]] is a powerful and refined onmyoji lady wielding a "ceremonial spear" which is, essentially, a "ko-naginata" (a naginata with a straight blade and more or less 4 feet long) adorned with paper wrappings and red tassels.
110	* Yuki in ''VideoGame/TheLastBlade'' is a western-born girl adopted to a Japanese family and has embraced its YamatoNadeshiko values. As such, naginata is her preferred weapon. Of course, she also comes with [[AnIcePerson the power to manipulate ice.]]
111	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
112	** Most members of the [[AmazonBrigade all-female]] Gerudo tribe in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' wield naginatas. Those who don't [[DualWielding dual-wield]] [[SinisterScimitar scimitars]] instead.
113	** Inverted in '''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom''. Ganondorf is a tall, muscular man who carries a naginata instead of the traditional trident.
114	** Impa is associated with these weapons in games outside the main canon. In ''Videogame/HyruleWarriors'', the naginata is Impa's second weapon. In ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule'', she is equipped with spear-class weapons, and the best of them is "Impa's Naginata."
115	* Momiji from the ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' series fights with a Naginata and a bow, as the shrine maiden of the Hayabusa village.
116	* In ''VideoGame/{{Nioh}}'', the graceful and deadly [[AnIcePerson Yuki-Onna]] can create and wield a naginata made of ice to fight William. Most notably, she's the only character in game to wield one (pretty much everyone else, William included, get to wield various type of Japanese yari spears.)
117	* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
118	** While [[TheStoic the male protagonist]] in ''VideoGame/Persona3 Portable'' uses a [[HeroesPreferSwords single-handed sword]], [[GenkiGirl his female counterpart]] only uses naginatas (which are a separate class from [[AdorablyPrecociousChild Ken Amada]]'s Spear weapon class).
119	** Chie Satonaka in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' is a KickChick. However, her Persona [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen Tomoe]] wields a double-ended naginata.
120	* Nagi from ''VideoGame/RecettearAnItemShopsTale'' uses pole-arms, among them actual naginata, while dressing in a pink kimono. This is complemented by being both a LadyOfWar and a YamatoNadeshiko.
121	* Subverted in ''VideoGame/RedAlert3'', where the naginata-using Steel Ronin and Naginata cruiser are both crewed by men (there are women in the Imperial ranks, but they use EnergyBows, rocket pods and psychic powers respectively).
122	* In ''[[UsefulNotes/{{RPG Maker}} RPG Maker 3]]'', one of the more limited console installments that doesn't support custom-created assets, certain weapon types can only be equipped by specific character models. Naginatas can only be wielded by female characters and [[BirdPeople birdmen]]. There ''is'' a [[GoodBadBugs glitch considered to be all-but-essential to use]] that allows the "wrong" weapon type to be equipped to a character, but because of the nature of how it works, it's ''still'' impossible to have a male character wield one even when using that glitch.[[note]]The glitch is performed by setting a character to a class that supports the desired weapon type, setting the weapon to be able to be equipped by that character, and then changing the character's class back to what they actually are without editing the weapon again. However, characters cannot change to a class of a different gender, meaning naginata-compatible classes are completely inaccessible to male characters without hacking.[[/note]]
123	* In ''Videogame/SamuraiWarriors'', Aya used a Naginata as her weapon of choice before becoming playable. It's also possible to make an edit female character armed with a naginata. One of them is even named after Tomoe (see below).
124	* ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'': Sumire Kanzaki, TheOjou, uses a naginata both inside and out of her MiniMecha.
125	* In ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'', the only enemies that wield traditional naginatas are the all-female Okami Warriors[[note]]the also-female Corrupted Monk wields what seems to be a cross between a traditional naginata and a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagamaki nagamaki]] called "O-naginata", and a small handful of monks found in Senpou Temple wield double-bladed naginatas[[/note]]. Somewhat justified by the late Sengoku setting; as noted in the page description, the yari was the favored polearm for most armies during this period, and it's implied that the primary reason the Okami still favor the naginata is because [[spoiler:they've been living largely isolated from the rest of Japan for at least a few centuries or so]].
126	* ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' has a few examples:
127	** Oichi, UsefulNotes/OdaNobunaga's demure sister, used a double-bladed naginata that can [[BifurcatedWeapon separate into two naginatas]] for DualWielding before she moved on to [[PowersDoTheFighting relying solely on summoning shadow arms]].
128	** Matsu uses a naginata and has been described as [[YamatoNadeshiko "the ideal housewife"]].
129	* ''VideoGame/SeveranceBladeOfDarkness'' features four playable characters who represent different classes and styles of combat. The only woman of the four, Zoe the Amazon, specializes in spears and other similar pole weapons with long reach, unlike the three male characters who mostly use somewhat shorter swords, clubs and axes. Among the weapons available for Zoe, two are actually a "Naginata" and a "Heavy Naginata".
130	* Spear weapons in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'' and ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiII'' can only be equipped by female party members.
131	* Another Asian variant, ''VideoGame/SongsOfWuxia'' has the heroine, Ling-ju, from a {{wuxia}}-inspired Ming Dynasty setting using a ''[[StockWushuWeapons qiang]]'' modeled to resemble a nagitana. She's the only character who uses this particular weapon, with other spear users wielding conventional, unmodified spears.
132	* In ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'', male Kilik and female Seung Mina have similair movesets. Kilik uses a staff while Seung Mina uses Naginatas, her default weapon weapon simply being called "Naginata".
133	* ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'': Yoshino Yamamoto's weapon of choice. She and Freed are a model Japanese soldier and wife team in the series. Their daughter Sanae continues the tradition in ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII''.
134	* ''VideoGame/TotalWarShogun2'' has a unit called the Onna Bushi, a 30-strong unit of women that guard the castles of your clan, though they can't actually take the field otherwise. There are male naginata samurai and cavalry, along with various "hero" units that use naginatas.
135	* Averted in ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' due to the fact that the game has an [[CastFullOfPrettyBoys all-male cast]], and the only Naginata at first was Iwatooshi, who is a boisterous BloodKnight. The second naginata introduced, Tomoegata Naginata, is meant as a AnthropomorphicPersonification of types of naginata used mainly by women, but outside of his looks, he doesn't act or sound that feminine.
136	* ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'' has the Matriarch class. A job exclusive to your female party members that comes with the weapon, and all the graceful moves you'd expect for it.
137	[[/folder]]
138
139	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
140	* While her [[UsefulNotes/GuanYu inspiration]] was originally male, Kan'u from ''VisualNovel/KoihimeMusou'' still fits this trope pretty well. Other females that use naginatas of their own include Chouhi, Ryofu and Chouryou.
141	[[/folder]]
142
143	[[folder:Web Comics]]
144	* ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'': Ariel's human slave/bodyguard Vaelia wields a naginata as her primary weapon. After the TimeSkip, Ariel herself starts using one as well.
145	* [[MeaningfulName Hime]] from ''Webcomic/LsEmpire'' is a princess in a Japanese inspired kingdom and she is is shown wielding a naginata.
146	* ''Webcomic/SleeplessDomain'': Moonlight Spear, real name Mitsuki Watanabe, wielded a naginata as her MagicalGirl weapon of choice. This fits her namesake, as the moon was seen in many cultures to be a more feminine force than the sun. She is also the first of her team to become a mother.
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Western Animation]]
150	* ''WesternAnimation/BlueEyeSamurai''. Ironically it was Mizu's husband who first demonstrated to her the usefulness of the naginata, saying it's old fashioned but [[ChekhovsLecture useful when you're outnumbered]]. In that same episode we discover the [[ImposedHandicapTraining metal plates present-day Mizu wears wrapped around her legs and arms]] can be curled up and connected together to form the handle of an improvised naginata, which she uses when outnumbered by the Thousand Claws whose WolverineClaws she can easily outrange with this weapon. Mizu also plays with this trope in that while she is a woman, she also isn't particularly feminine.
151	* Pearl, the most feminine of the Crystal Gems in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' uses what is essentially a Naginata as her main weapon, though she tends to use it more as a fencing saber than a polearm.
152	* Inverted in ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'': Donatello's MartialArtsStaff also doubles as a naginata in a pinch. In contrast, the female characters in the show wield weapons like metal fans and wakizashis.
153	[[/folder]]
154
155	[[folder:Real Life]]
156	* TruthInTelevision: In Japan, ''atarashii naginata'' (modern sports Naginata, done in Kendo-style armour) is primarily practiced by women. However, in Western countries, the gender difference is much more even.
157	* Real life historical Japanese warrior women tended to use naginatas, though it's also associated with {{Warrior Monk}}s as well. It is the primary [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]] of the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onna_bugeisha Onna-bugeisha warrior class]]. They included:
158	** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoe_Gozen Tomoe Gozen]]
159	** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangaku_Gozen Hangaku Gozen]] (No relation; ''Gozen'' is more of a title than a surname, it translates as "young lady" and indicates noble status.)
160	** [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakano_Takeko Nakano Takeko]]
161	* Until the end of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, ''naginatajutsu'' was a compulsory subject for Japanese schoolgirls (karate and kendo were compulsory for boys).
162	[[/folder]]

Context Main / NaginatasAreFeminine