while the samurai became adept with the famed katana sword. Although crude Chinese handguns reached Japan by the early 16th century, the later introduction of the European arquebus and its armor ...

In the 10th century samurai guarding the emperor and aristocrats began to wear colorful armor, reflecting the capital's elegance. High-ranking samurai practiced mounted warfare, shooting arrows ...

the sword was discovered to be from the 12th century, making it one of the oldest in existence. The 32-inch sword, known as a ...

The samurai belonged to the intellectual elite ... The warrior class rose to power in the 12th century, and their influence grew until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ann and Gabriel Barbier ...