Hōjutsu

Groups such as the Matsumoto Castle Gun Corps [1] maintain large collections of Edo era firearms.

Recently the general media has come to view the samurai as warriors who were armed only with close combat weapons such as the katana.

[13] However, the Japanese were arguably using guns more effectively than their European counterparts by the sixteenth century, as well as producing more accurate, durable varieties.

The ashigaru were the lowest class of soldier in feudal Japan and were formed as militia units during times of conflict.

Prior to the introduction of firearms, these men would often have to wield polearms and spears like yari or learn to fight with swords and bows.