samurais

Samurai were a military caste and social class in Japan from the late Heian period through the Meiji Restoration. The term is traditionally interpreted as derived from saburu, meaning "to serve." They served noble families and, later, the shogunate, providing military service in exchange for land stipends and privileges. In feudal Japan, samurai functioned as warriors, administrators, and regional leaders for their lords, the daimyō. In English, the standard plural is "samurai"; "samurais" is used occasionally but less common.

During the Sengoku period, decades of conflict empowered daimyō to rely on disciplined samurai for battlefield leadership. The Tokugawa shogunate (Edo period) centralized authority and imposed a long period of peace, creating a rigid class structure in which samurai were salaried administrators and retainers. The code of Bushido, or "the way of the warrior," emphasized loyalty, honor, self-control, and discipline. Training encompassed archery, swordsmanship, and spear fighting; over time, the katana became the emblematic weapon, while armor such as the helmet (kabuto), face mask (menpo), and lamellar dō provided protection.

After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, the samurai as a legal class were abolished and a conscript army replaced their military function. Many former samurai became government officials, educators, or businessmen, shaping modern Japan in various ways. The samurai legacy persists in literature, film, and popular culture, where historical elements intertwine with legend and mythology.