Naginata Rider

The Naginata Rider is a Japanese cavalry unit that wields a naginata featured in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties.

Overview
It is trained from the stable in the Colonial Age and is one of two types of cavalry available to the Japanese. A non-traditional cavalry unit it functions similarly to the Hussar of the European civilizations. It is very effective against archers and skirmishers. It has a high attack and can go against most enemy hand cavalry as well. However they have the same weaknesses as most hand cavalry units, being vulnerable against heavy infantry and ranged cavalry.

History
"The naginata is an ancient Japanese weapon that was used widely during Japan’s feudal period. It is often compared to the European halberd, or pike, and is little more than a 1-2 foot curved sword blade fastened to the end of a long oak handle. The dimensions of the weapon are often dependent on personal preference and battlefield conditions. Despite its simplicity, the naginata is difficult to brandish and even more difficult to master. Naginata-jutsu is the art of wielding the naginata, a practice that is still studied today. When it first appeared, the naginata was usually used by attendants to samurai and by sohei warrior monks. It was effective at disabling enemy cavalry units from a short distance. However, with the dawn of gunpowder weapons, the naginata rapidly lost its importance and was often left behind when men ventured off to battle. This is how the naginata became a symbolic object for Japanese women, since it was the primary weapon with which they had to defend their homes and families. It was also the weapon of choice for female samurai, including the legendary Hangaku, a beautiful and deadly warrior who was said to wield a naginata in combat. Today, naginata-jutsu is widely considered a feminine art, the weapon seen as a symbol of a woman’s devotion to her family. More Japanese women than men practice it."