Why Don T Samurai Use Shields
There was no use for shields for them because it hindered them from properly using the yumi japanese long bow.
Why don t samurai use shields. The samurai started as mounted archers. Though there is evidence for shields being used in early japanese warfare just not as common. Although the preference is not to use hand held shields sometimes the samurai class did use shields whilst riding into battle. And typically not by the samurai class themselves especially in the edo period.
On why didn t the samurai use shields as often in addition to the inconvenience a hand held shield poses to a horse borne archer one of the clearest reason is because the unique samurai armour the kogusoku and ōsode. When ashigaru lower class infantry came along they had no use for portable shields either because they were usually armed with spears. Nah foot soldiers did use bamboo shields. Just like the other teams infantry samurai are like officers in their army infantry are low ranking soldiers they are quite different than the officers running around the field captureing control points.