Anime and Manga

While the Genpei War isn't usually the biggest topic for popular media, there are actually many several highly varied characters that are either supposed to represent Tomoe Gozen or a reincarnation of her in several series.

 

 



For example in Samurai Deeper Kyo I appear as the above fighter named Saisei who works as a nurse as part of her alter-ego. She was resurrected as a zombie by another character and thus fights for her. The characteristics that link her to the historical Tomoe are really only the fact that she fights with a naginata and the clan crest she wears on her chest. As as villain that only appears for a few chapters of manga she does not get much character development, but she also personifies the strong, spirited female warrior often depicted in modern versions. However, it should be taken into consideration that she also has a secret love interest which allows her to be spared....I'm seeing a theme here.

So far so good...until you get to Nurarihyon no Mago.

One evil character, Hagoromo Gitsune, requires hosts to live and it is revealed that in her second host was Tomoe Gozen. The historical accuracy is hopelessly scrambled here. Hagaromo Gitsune preferred weapon fan which she supposedly received from her time with the Taira clan. That's right. They say I was fighting for the OTHER SIDE! Her two other weapons are a bit more realistic for the historical Tomoe: a tachi called Sanbi no tachi and a straight spear, Yonbi no yari. No naginatas here.
As for her character, she is seen as the imperious but motherly queen of the yokai. Honestly, there is not really any connection to the historical Tomoe. It seemed as if the creator simply needed another recognizable female historical figure that could pull off the dignity of the character.

Anyone who is interested in the Fate universe may also know that Tomoe is a common fan character for the Magus Wars roleplay groups. There are several different versions of her character depending on the creator but she is considered a Lancer class due to her main weapon being a naginata although some creators also note her skills with other weapons that could class her as an Archer, Saber and Rider. While the interpretations vary, it should be noted that Tomoe has been linked first and foremost with the naginata, despite the fact that the Heike Monogatari never mentions her using one, perhaps because of the weapon's use among the few Japanese female warriors. She has also been stripped of any clan insignia, but the character descriptions usually noted that she should be played as a refined, confident and serious young woman.

It seems like Tomoe is quite popular in English as she is in Japanese since she also appears in another two series. Firstly, the character of Tomoe Ame, an anthropomorphic cat, from Usagi Yojimbo is a very loose interpretation of Tomoe Gozen simply because she is a female samurai. She fights along side the title character, is captured and must be rescued by him and is suspected of being in love with Usagi. (Love interest AGAIN!)

 

Tomoe was also featured in a pseudo-historical fantasy series by Jessica Amanda Salmonson where she is a rash young warrior longing to regain her honor after sorcery tears her away from it. It really doesn't try to be historical in any way and Tomoe is a convenient female protagonist but once again she is associated with the naginata, due to the title of the second book, although she is seen wielding two swords in several of the illustrations.