Born in 1155 AD, Minamoto no Taikawa Saiaiko is a samurai living among the riotous monks in the highlands above Heian-kyo. Saiaiko, as she is known to friends, serves Minamoto no Yoshinaka in his campaign to rout the rule of another powerful samurai family, the Taira. The two families are struggling for control of the empire in the tide of the Fujiwara's waning influence and the cloistering of the Mikado. Devoted to the consort of her general, the famous Tomoe Gozen, Saiaiko tries to emulate her in all ways possible, including the study of warfare and some of the more intimate and courtly skills.

Saiaiko is currently engaged in many projects including formal Heian court garb, outlandish fighting clothes and boots, o-yoroi armor, and a buke yashiki (samurai house). This involves learning period crafts including ceramics, wood working, leather working, metal working, metal casting, period painting, resist dyeing, etc. At this past War, Saiaiko has also tried her hand at sumi-e and calligraphy.

Saiaiko is proud to be a retainer of Lady Muirgen Sideach, who is teaching her the samurai arts (how to slaughter her enemies). In her service, Saiaiko has a young page by the name of Moira, daughter of Rowena.

She is also a web-minister, with Date Saburou Yukiie, of the Clan Yama Kaminari website, and the Aethelmearc's College of Scribes website (opens in a new window).