Thanks for the interesting info, word-san.

It occurs to me that the composition of the Japanese state (in the days before the samurai as we think of them emerged) contributed to the transcendance of the mounted archer. The birth place of the warrior 'class' of Japan is often described as the Kanto. Here, families that settled were for the most part responsible for their own security. Over time, what amounted to three factions appeared: the 'Japanese', those Japanese settlers who, in the eyes of the faraway court, had gone 'native', and the Ainu. Noone is really sure just how much of this fighting even involved the Ainu - they and the 'native' Japanese are often lumped together in the chronicles as 'emishi'. Anyway, the fighting that went on was not unlike that seen in the French and Indian Wars of N. America - a lot of raids, counter-raids, and ambushes. This sort of warfare favored the mobile. In addition, the bow was an important piece of equipment for any settlers and natives in this remote area.