Ashigaru (足軽) were the peasant foot soldiers of feudal Japan, literally meaning "light foot," who formed the bulk of samurai armies, evolving from untrained levies into disciplined, professional troops using spears, bows, and firearms (arquebuses) by the 16th century, becoming crucial to warfare and sometimes even rising in status, exemplified by figures like Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Initially lightly armored and armed, they grew in importance as armies needed more men, developing into vital, well-equipped units crucial for large-scale conflicts and sieges.
