Rome vs Japan

[MARCvSVIBIvSMAvRINvS]

BTW, the documented fights between samurai and spanish/portugese fencers were usually mutual killings... so far, so good

true, but that is mainly because of the use of the dagger/dirk and the two swords one mind style the samurai copied from the Portugese/spanish. also the fact the portuguese/spanish used guns helped. there are not that many documented incidents.

Narukami very well said! Warrior vbs Soldier is a good interpretation, especially in early samurai warfare the armies were very apt in not only work as one giant mass, but as small individual groups on the battlefield.

also the Samurai's use of fire as a weapon has not yet come into this thread.
they were masters in torching almost anything.

there was some discussion about yumi and parthian/syrian bows, and where the parthian bows are very strong, a yumi will beat this due to its power, which outdoes any smaller bow. compare the English longbow against other contemporary bows.

I think a legion would have a very very difficult time in batteling samurai, who were also masters of deception.... tactics of retreat immediately followed by onslaught and encirclement would have left the Romans utterly panicked.

M.VIB.M.