The Samurai warrior is one of the most famous types of soldier, with his intricate armour, longbow and distinctive katana sword, as well as his strict martial code. But samurai warfare and military culture is much misunderstood in the modern era. In Samurai Weapons & Fighting Techniques, Thomas D. Conlan traces the history and development of samurai warfare over seven centuries, beginning with the historic dominance of the mounted, bow-armed samurai, moving through the introduction of naginata-wielding ashigaru (skirmishers) and pike formations, and finishing with the revolutionary introduction of firearms and cannon. Conlan analyses the success of particular samurai dynasties, such as the Ashikaga, Uesugi and Tokugawa clans, and examines the role of many of the great battlefield commanders – such as Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu – at key battles like Kawanakajima (1561), Nagashino (1575) and the siege of Osaka (1615). The book is illustrated throughout with more than 300 detailed line drawings and colour photographs showing the weapons, equipment, techniques and tactics of the samurai. Types of armour – such as ō-yoroi, haramaki and paper armour – and weapons – such as the tachi long sword, wakizashi short sword and yari (pike) – are depicted in detail. Expertly written, Samurai Weapons & Fighting Techniques is a highly illustrated, accessible introduction to samurai warfare for both the military enthusiast and general reader.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction This chapter offers an overview of the medieval Japanese world and a guide to the typical battlefield and the armies that populated it. This chapter also explores the development of the professional warrior and how that role changed through time. 2. The Mounted Samurai Most Samurai fought on horseback, although they never had the impact of mounted knights in Europe. This chapter examines the tactics, equipment, armour and weaponry of the mounted Samurai. 3. Skirmishers This chapter covers the introduction of dismounted samurai, ashigaru men-at-arms wielding pikes, naginatas and swords, and the use of foot archers. 4. Pikemen The introduction of the pike and pike formations in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries revolutionized warfare in Japan and allowed commanders to deploy much larger armies that could challenge the traditional dominance of the mounted Samurai. 5. Commanders In the fifteenth century tactics and strategy came to the fore, especially during the Onin Wars of the 1460s and 1470s. This chapter explores the generalship of the era. 6. Firearms With the arrival the Portuguese and European weaponry in the 1540s, Japanese commanders were quick to deploy arquebus troops, who had a decisive impact at battles such as Nagashino (1575) and the siege of Osaka (1615). 7. Artillery Although gunpowder artillery was in its infancy, and only really useful in sieges due to the long reloading times and lack of accuracy, they still played an important role. Trebuchets were also used as anti-personnel weapons. Glossary Index