Ashigaru Armour and Jingasa Headwear

And How an Ashigaru's item became a Samurai's Necessity

As the civil war-torn Muromachi period (circa 1336 to 1573) advanced, so too did the way of fighting. One-on-one combat between mounted warriors made way for close range hand-to-hand close combat in groups. Each warlord military commander began to summon the farmers and other able men from their domains to act as soldiers and fight on the front lines. They were called ashigaru, and they played various roles on the battlefields.