The term "samurai" comes from the Japanese word saburau, meaning "to serve," and was first used in A.D. 702 to describe mid-to-low-ranking court administrators and, later, armed imperial guards.

Japan is a place that many wanderlusters ... the lowest rank in the samurai class. Two preserved homes provide a glimpse into how the ashigaru lived, complete with details about their duties ...

To be a samurai meant position and prestige, but it could all be taken away in an instant, plunging the once-proud warrior ...