[Keir Maxwell]

Originally posted by Arralen:
... but they didn't have that much use for shields because they didn't have massed archers/slingers like all armies west of them had.

Army lists give them high proportions of Longbow armed Samurai in the early Samurai period. The lack of shields, given influence from China, is very odd. Explanations could include their armour being exceptionally effective against missile, the bow commonly used being not as good as it is generally rated, and that the focus on individual combat made shields less effective as they require a degree of discipline and formation tog et the full benifit.

Cheers

Keir