Quote Originally Posted by Maciamo
Like in Japan, peasants lived in villages in the countryside, while merchants, artisans, artists, civil servants, government soldiers, etc. lived in cities. From the 16th century, European nobles became very different from the Japanese samurai class. They were landed lords that usually didn't fight but discussed the arts and politics, sponsored famous artists or enjoyed themselves. Wars were made by ordinary soldiers like nowadays. The officers were often from noble families but not always. Castles were not used in wars anymore. Most battles took place in open fields or at sea.

So the main difference between Europe and Japan during the Edo period was that the castle was the center of the city in Japan, and that the soldiers protecting this castle were the priviledged samurai class, not ordinary people.
Tell me who the samurai class protected their castles against... It seems to me that people enjoyed the pax tokugawana.