When the distance is getting too close to shoot arrows, position yourselves separately to the right or left side of the formation and keep shooting. If this is not possible, the best thing to do is to move to your left so that you can shoot the right side of the enemy, as the right side is difficult to defend.
As for a mounted enemy, shoot the horse first.
When you are running out of arrows, nock an arrow, do not shoot it at once but try to make the best of it by repeatedly pulling and loosening it, to avoid wasting it.
If the time comes you could be killed at any moment, so get close to the enemy, even closer than a spear’s length and shoot the last arrow targeting a gap within the opponent. Then stab with the bayonet blade which is fixed to your bow at the enemy’s face or any gap, such as an opening with the tasse – that is the skirt of the armour. After that, draw anything you like, such as your sword or your Wakizashi short sword, and try to cut the hand or leg of the enemy. Never try to hit the front of the helmet with your weapon; if it is poor in quality, then it will have the edge nicked and it will not function anymore.
It is tough and painful, but if you hang on to the enemy closely, there is a chance of you stabbing him with the short blade attached to the horn of the bow. All you have to do is cling on to him and stab.
Yumi Ashigaru
Bowmen
By
Ogawa Asaemon
When I restrung my bow yesterday, I happened to make a little crease in the string and only with one shot of an arrow did the string break. It was a well-made bowstring but it broke with only a little crease and thus it will not do for shooting anymore. It seems to be much weaker than an un-lacquered string. As it seems we are short of spare strings, I will have to restring carefully and so that I do not make this crease again.
The shaft of this bow is 6 shaku [6ft] in length, with rattan rolled at intervals of 1 shaku. Therefore, it is a bow to be used as a form of measuring ruler, the length of 1 ken [6ft]. If a ruler is in need, I can use this to measure things by placing it with the string downwards.
I think this one is a bow called the Shakudo Zukuri.7 (See Fig 2)
Yarikatsugi Kogashira
The Spearman Sergeant
By
Nagara Genzaemon
I think each of you need to have the following things in mind, but I dare say that just like a sutra for the Buddha or an iron rod for an ogre, the following things are accepted as known by all though should be reinforced here anyway.
Remember to put the sheath for your spear inside of your breastplate before the spear fighting begins. A long sheath should be put on your waist, just behind your sword. For the front spearmen, be aware that the first people to attack should be samurai, so do not attack until they do. Also remind yourself that a spear is not only to thrust with. All men should work as one so that all the spearheads will be pulled together and in sync, and immobilise the enemy spears by striking them downwards. Do not take it for granted that you should stab with a spear. Thrusting should be fine in a combat with one or even two enemies, but if you have a number of spears, all you need do is to unite and strike down together.
For an enemy flag, use your spear to knock it down. If the enemy is mounted, remember to stab the stomach of the horse before the mounted enemy himself, so that he will be thrown down to the ground for you to stab him.
Once the enemy is in retreat, do not chase them farther than 1 cho, as it is not necessary.
It is better for us to stay together with the flags and Umajirushi standards for the general welfare of the army and do our best to defend those marks and be prepared for whatever happens.
Always be careful about the rivet of your spear and secure it firmly, so that it will not come off in an emergency. If it has a metal clasp, be sure to keep it tight by turning it around so that the rivet will not come off.
Concerning the Omochiyari Katsugi, or spear carrying servant – normally in Edo they get quite a stipend and walk at the front of a daimyo’s parade, as they are carrying the most important weapon for a samurai. However, on the battlefield, the spears are the property of their masters and not for their own use, so they must not use them. On the other hand, Kazuyari are those lower-quality spears supplied by the lord, making them different from the above great spears. You can brandish or do anything with your Kazuyari spear, remember that there is no difference between you and the deeds you can do from those of great samurai. So, you should have strong hipbones and be well prepared so you will not fall behind.
To all Omochiyari Katsugi spear carrying servants – remember, if you use your master’s spear yourself, it will turn out to be a thoughtless and cowardly act, so keep in mind that your aim is to carry the spear and not to fight with it; this is the best service you can do. Keep in mind the difference between these two kinds of spear services.
Mochiyari Katsugi
The Spear Carrying Servant
By
Kichinaizaemon
While I was carrying a spear with silver fittings for my samurai master, I fell asleep and the silver Sakawa binding clamp on the spear end was taken out and stolen. Because of this I might be blamed and killed. Since I am to blame, I was hoping to do something fine by killing an enemy to pay for my blame. Then an enemy Musha came on horseback, and I thrust at the stomach of the horse with the spear and at full strength, almost like I was pounding rice into sticky Mochi, but as the binding was stolen before, the spear handle cracked. When I tried to pull the spear out, the end of the spear shaft stuck firm and came off, and was left in the horse’s stomach as if it was being pickled in the horse’s guts. The container of pickles was the horse’s body while the ‘pickling weight’8 was the enemy. However, he did not fall from the horse’s back and it turned out that I had the spear snatched from me – how unfortunate.
While I was thinking what I should do, by a turn of good luck, there came another enemy, who was carrying a spear with a hooked blade. The horse looked like it was just injured as its eye was bleeding, and it had been clipped by a spear, and he looked so undignified that I thought it would be really easy for me to defeat him. Thinking I might be struck in turn if I attacked him from the left side, I came at him from his right side, taking a grip of the spear shaft and aiming at the edge on the crupper;9 I did this judging where it was best to strike, where it would not hit the horse’s bones. I tried to pierce with force around the tuft of the crupper. However, the spear hit the horse [in the incorrect place, bounced] and flew about 5 ken away, and I slipped and fell down. If I had fallen holding the spear in hand, the horse would have run away, but luckily I let go of the spear when I failed [and by accident] it made the horse falter and collapse.10 The enemy fell onto the ground facing upward, so I could cut off his head with ease as if he were asleep. The O-Wakizashi, or greater short sword, is so inconvenient for cutting off the head. There is a reason we wear a Ko-Wakizashi, or lesser short sword, on our armour. I was going to cut off this head, as if it were as easy as cutting the head off of a sleeping man, and while I was trying to do that – as the enemy was unconscious and hopefully before he came to – I sat astride him holding his neck with my left hand, trying to draw my O-Wakizashi again and again. However, the sash where the sword was fixed was loose, so when I tried to draw it, it came off halfway together with the scabbard. The blade of the O-Wakizashi is as long as 2 shaku and the scabbard had come out at least 1 shaku, so I had to draw the equivalent of a 3-shaku long sword with one hand, and I just could not manage it. In the end I twisted the blade so that it broke the scabbard and was finally free. This was very troublesome. If it had taken a little more time, the enemy may have regained consciousness and my head might have been cut off instead.
Modern scabbards do not have a Sakazuno11 which is a small hook that holds the scabbard to your belt and that will not allow the scabbard to come off – people think it is cumbersome nowadays.
If my scabbard had one of these Sakazuno hooks, it would have caught the sash so I could have drawn th
e sword much more easily. I will knock a bent nail or any other such thing onto this scabbard now.
The sword and the Wakizashi and the spear (here around me) were the property of this samurai, though he is now only a head! And thanks to this head, my head can stay with my body and I am very happy about that. Over only such a small thing like silver fittings I nearly lost my life. I have heard old samurai say ‘it is not good to provide armour or weapons with gold or silver fittings’. That statement is fair enough. Now I understand it totally. I have had such bad experiences due to the spear with silver fittings. I hear those who have such swords or Wakizashi with gold or silver fittings might be attacked by their allies while sleeping. The metal fittings of a saddle or stirrups, if taken away, will result, at worst, in shame. Therefore, gold or silver fittings on swords or spears are totally useless. They will cause big trouble! Though I thought that horse’s eye – that I talked about earlier – was pierced with a spear and crushed, the truth seems to be that that beheaded samurai happened to hit the horse’s eye with his own hooked spear. Remember, you cannot have perfection in everything.
If you have a hooked spear, it can be advantageous sometimes, but it can be a disadvantage when you are on horseback. It depends on the situation if a weapon is good or bad.
Kazuyari Katsugi
The Lower Spearman
By
Sukenaizaemon
Oh Kichinai, Kichinai,12 you are carrying a hooked spear with a strange sheath on! What the hell is it?
Kichinai replies: This sheath was for my master’s spear, but we were told not to throw away anything from our gear. If it is a short sheath you should put it inside the breastplate and, if it is long, then one should put it at the waist. So, I kept this old sheath for the master’s spear and I fumbled around, trying to find it in my breastplate, but eventually I took it out and put it on this hooked spear as you see now, a spear I have looted by the way.
Also, looking at the other troops, it seems that they also have been told not to throw away the sheaths for their spears. I can see some spear-carriers carrying feather-decorated sheaths or even two-layered feather-decorated ones with the greatest care. Other chugen servants are carrying ones tied around their neck with rope. The funniest thing I saw was a spear carrying servant who was carrying a cover for one shaped like an orders notice board on his back.13 I was laughing my head off and thought my sides would split.
These days people prefer a [decorative] sheath to help them distinguish themselves in a crowd, this is so it may act as an Umajirushi battle standard as well. Thus, big sheaths are commonly used, but once the battle begins you have to take the sheath off and the spear will be naked without it, therefore, it will no longer serve as a standard any more. If this is done it will result in not knowing where the general is and the spear carrying servants will have trouble with such a big sheath on their back. I have no idea why such large things are so popular these days. The spear sheath should be as simple and plain as a stick that is thrust out from a bush, this way is also better for the spear carrying servants. (See Fig. 3)
Hatasashi Umajirushi Mochi
The Commander’s Standard Bearer
By
Magozo
When breaking into a run, I put the end of the standard’s shaft into the leather support holder that I am wearing on my waist. However, when moving slowly, I will carry it and put it into the cylinder on my back.
Oh, it is so windy today. I will tie a rope onto the standard shaft and pull it to hold the standard upright. When the battle gets harder, all Umajirushi, or flag carrying servants, have to pitch in and join the battle with the enemy, then I will hit and swing away with the long shaft, if the enemy comes close that is!
Umajirushimochi Hatasashi
The Commander’s Standard Carrying Servant
By
Hikozo
When marching slowly, it is better to carry the Umajirushi, or flag, in a cylinder. When moving very fast, it is more convenient to carry it in a leather bag which is worn on the waist. When you have to run even faster, I will roll up the flag and carry it on my shoulder.
In case you are breaking down the enemy’s formation and the battle is getting hard, all flags or Umajirushi carrying servants should get together at one place and fight with the long shaft as a weapon.
As I was carrying two flags in the bag on my back, I have put one of the flags onto the flagpole now and will keep the other one in the bag.
Magozo says: I had two flags carried in my bag but now I have put one on the pole, but still one remains in my bag. (See Fig 4)
Mochizutsu
The Musket Carrying Servant
By
Tsutsuhei
Teppei, Teppei, I will not shoot the musket I am now carrying on my shoulder, as this is the gun my master is going to use. The ignition powder container will be dirty if I hang it from my neck, so it will be annoying for my master when he puts it around his neck. Also I think I should not always wear the leather box of bullets around my neck as the cord will also get dirty. Therefore, I have put them all together in a bag and tied it up at my waist. When the battle becomes hard, I cannot fight carrying the musket on my shoulder, therefore I will put the ramrod onto the inside of my armour and the musket on my waist, so I will be able to fight in this manner.
Mochizutsu
The Musket Carrying Servant
By
Teppei
Tsutsuhei, Tsutsuhei, you are quite right. However, the musket you are carrying is so small that you can carry it on the waist but the gun that I have to carry on my back is so huge that I cannot put it on my waist. On top of that, when I am given this musket back after our master shoots it, I cannot put it on my back quickly, well, not as quickly as you attach yours onto your waist. It takes me too long and I have so much trouble. Therefore, I think you and I should take turns to carry the big gun and the small one from tomorrow on? (See Fig 5)
Mochi Yumi
The Bow Carrying Servant
By
Yazaemon
You should be aware that a Mochi Yumi, or a bow, for our master is a totally different thing from the common Kazuyumi bow for the masses to use. Once the battle begins, I will give my master one bow and a set of arrows I have in the quiver. The other bow and set of arrows I carry are used if his string snaps or he has spent his arrows, so I must keep them on my back and keep them with care. Also you should not throw away the bow stand thinking it is of no use any more. Tie it onto your Jutsuuchigai ration bag with a 3-shaku long Tenugui cloth so that you can carry it on your back, which allows us to draw the swords on our waists and fight with them.
Mochi Yumi
The Bow Carrying Servant
By
Yaemon
As Yazaemon said above, it is totally different carrying a bow for your master from carrying a Kazuyumi bow for your own use. It is extremely foolish to shoot the bow for your own sake. Oh, also, I just remembered one thing and I will tell you what that is. Even though you are carrying a spare bow and arrows for your master, do not think at all that you should keep carrying them and hold them back. If you see another samurai who is empty handed, ask your master if you can give him your spare bow and arrows, if he says yes then we will have our hands free, that way we can freely draw our swords and fight. Yazaemon, what do you think? (See Fig 6)
Zoritori
The Sandal Carrying Servant
By
Kirokubei
Hey Yaroku, you used to carry the Hasamibako travelling box, but you have been told to carry a rattan trunk instead. On top of that, you are now carrying a sword. On the other hand, I have been told to carry some other burden as well as my regular task as a sandal carrier.
Yaroku, you have profited well because of this change, but you do not know how to wear a sword or Wakizashi short sword correctly; how strange it is, you wearing your swords this way! The great samurai people wear their swords and Wakizashi short swords on top of their armour, but they use a leat
her sword-belt called a Koshiate to make them firm. For people, such as me or you, Yaroku, it is really lucky to be allowed to be armoured. A leather loin cloth would be far more than we can expect. If you wear such a straight sword14 as ours on armour, you cannot draw even a 2-shaku long sword with ease. If you wear them as I do, you can draw even such a long sword as 5 or 6 shaku. I will show you how to wear them now, like so; before you wear armour, put your sword and Wakizashi short sword inside your sash, then put on your armour as if putting on a Haori outer-jacket. As the country has been in a time of peace for a long period, we are not wearing our swords with the blade facing down anymore; this [way of the blade facing up which is now popular] is so we can draw them easily. So you do not need a rather sharply curved sword, ones so curved that they look like the handle of a pot. Also, curved swords hit your heels when you are walking; even great samurai or their retainers are wearing straight swords that resemble sticks [these days], just like the servants do.
If you put the sword under the outer obi [that is the sash outside of the armour], you will have a lot of trouble in drawing it, and if you try to draw when you see the enemy, it will only be half drawn out [as you are doing it in haste]. So, some people will try to finish this draw by holding the blade with the left hand but this is wrong as they end up cutting themselves, while others will just drop the sword and end up injuring their feet.
Samurai War Stories Page 2