New weapons and new tactics Ashigaru
edo period print of ashigaru wearing mino (straw raincoats) in rain while firing tanegashima (japanese matchlocks). ashigaru formed backbone of samurai armies in later periods. real change ashigaru began in 1543 introduction of matchlock firearms portuguese. local daimyōs started equip ashigaru new weapon required little training use proficiently, compared longbow took many years learn. battles became more complex , forces larger, ashigaru rigorously trained hold ranks in face of enemy fire. the advantage of matchlock guns proved decisive samurai warfare. demonstrated @ battle of nagashino in 1575, positioned ashigaru gunners of oda , tokugawa clans thwarted takeda clan s repeated heavy cavalry charges against oda clan s defensive lines , broke of takeda war machine. after battle, ashigarus role in armies cemented powerful complement samurai. advantage used in 2 invasions of korea in 1592 , 1597 against koreans , later ming-dynasty chinese. though ratio of guns (matchlocks) , bows 2:1...