ashigaru foot soldier
bakufu the shogunate
bokken wooden practice sword
budo martial arts
bugei techniques of the martial arts
bushido the Way of the Warrior
daimyo Japanese warlord
do body armour
dojo martial arts practice hall
dojo yaburi contests between schools, or external challenges for gain
gunkimono the war tales
hatamoto a daimyo’s closest retainers
kabuto helmet
kamayari a cross-bladed spear
kami deity of the Shinto religion
kata set forms of swordplay
kengo master swordsman
kenjutsu sword-fighting techniques
koku a measure of wealth expressed in rice
kote sleeve armour
kyuba no michithe way of horse and bow
kyudo Japanese archery
machi bugyo magistrate
maku field curtains on a battlefield
naginata a glaive (polearm) with a curved blade
ninja secret spies and assassins
ninjutsu the art of stealth and invisibility
otokodate townsmen ‘samurai’
ronin a samurai without a master to serve
ryu school of swordsmanship
sake rice wine
samurai a member of the military class
sensei teacher
shikoro neck guard
shogun the military dictator of Japan
sode shoulder plates
sohei warrior monks
tengu forest goblin
tsumeru pulling a blow
yabusame horseback archery
yamabushi a mountain ascetic
yari spear
yarijutsu spear-fighting techniques
yoroi armour worn by high-ranking samurai