They say behind every great man is a great woman. For Tokugawa Ieyasu, the samurai lord who unified Japan at the end of the 16th century, it was Lady Saigo. Also known as Oai, Lady Saigo had a major influence on everything from Ieyasu’s philosophies and policies to his choice of allies as he rose to power. Later, she became the power behind the throne, indirectly affecting the composition of the Tokugawa shogunate.

Being near-sighted herself, Lady Saigo set up a charity dedicated to helping visually-impaired women with no other means of support. If you’re into unsolved mysteries, look into the death of Lady Saigo. The circumstances are suspicious, and although murder was suspected, a culprit was never identified. Sarah Koenig, if you’re listening, get on this.