The arquebus became the most important missile weapon in the latter half of the 16th century and the great daimyo could field thousands of ashigaru armed with these firearms thus changing the way warfare was conducted in Japan forever.

Japanese fletchers produced many types of arrows with shafts of varying lengths and colours and a numerous selection of arrowheads.

For centuries the bow and arrow was the principle weapon of choice in Japan and even after the introduction of the firearm in the 16th century, and the strict rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, archery remained a noble art.

The kabuto, or helmet, embodied the samurai's personality and, if anything, his wealth and identified his status in society. The 16th century saw a revolution in the kabuto's design and high-ranking samurai instructed their armourers to make helmets with ever more lavish decorations.

The katana, or samurai sword as it is commonly labelled in contemporary terms, is instantly recognisable with its smooth razor-edged curved blade and its black handle with those characteristic white diamond-shaped grips.

The famous 'box-like' armour worn by the original samurai was called the o-yoroi or 'great armour'. Being quite heavy it was essentially for mounted warfare, the raison d'être for samurai for centuries.

A summary of samurai armour over the centuries.