Although the samurai is often associated with katana swords and wakizashi swords, he did have an arsenal of other weapons at his disposal. Popular samurai weapons include the spear (Naginata), as well as the Yari and the bow and arrow. The types of weapons used by the samurai was often dictated by the battle at hand.
The training regimen of the samurai involved mastery of a number of samurai weapons, namely the bow and arrow.
Three-target shooting (yabusame) which saw the horse launched at a full gallop by the Japanese samurai, while he shot arrows directed against three targets, each constructed of a three-inch square of paper set on a pole along the horse's path. Bamboo-hat target shooting (kasagake) was performed within the confines of a course known as the arrow way (yado), which was properly fenced and had a shelf at its end from which the bamboo hats were hung. The rider was required to launch his steed at full gallop and begin to hit those hats with this samurai weapon, first from a distance (tokasgake) and then at a close range (kokasake.) (Ratti and Westbrook quoted in King, 1993, pg 63)
There were also archers on foot. Although these archers where not of the bushi class as were most samurai warriors who wielded a samurai sword, their efforts greatly affected the outcome of the battle. The bow of these soldiers was massive, commonly upward of eight feet in length, and was slightly curved at the ends to provide very high string tension. The strings made an audible sound when pulled and released, and were sometimes used as a way to signal to other archers.
Another samurai weapon used to protect and aid high-status warriors fighting with a katana sword was the spear. Generally, the fighting would begin with a volley of arrows, then the closer combat would take place using spears, and then the bushi warriors would attack with their handmade Japanese swords.
The spear-carriers were the lowest class of warrior, and were considered the most expendable by ranking officers. Horse-mounted spear-carriers had short spears with straight blades mounted on their horse - a very effective samurai weapon in battle.
Foot soldiers with spears carried very long spears that had a curved blade that was used to hook and cause opposing mounted soldiers to fall off their horse. Spearmen, both mounted and on foot, were much more lightly armored than those who carried samurai swords, because of their status as expendable infantrymen.
Aside from the aforementioned samurai weapons, including samurai swords, arrows, and spears, there were also a small contingent of unorthodox weapons, including an iron-ribbed fan that was used to slice an opponent. There was also a chain whip, which was simply a chain attached to a sickle blade. Although simple to craft, chain whips were extremely effective at disarming swordsmen. Some samurais even used a blunt pipe on the battlefield. They would use these metal pipes to knock horsemen off of their mounts, and when on the ground, as a jabbing implement, usually landing a crushing blow to their opponent's face.
Of all the weapons used on the battlefield, samurai swords certainly trumped every other weapon. Samurai swords were not only weapons, but also a status symbol representing honor, courage, and tradition. It was considered an extreme honor to have a warrior who used samurai swords in battle in your clan.
