were members of the samurai class of feudal Japan. Yoriki literally means helper or assistant.[1]
Yoriki assisted daimyō (feudal lords) or their designated commanders during military campaigns in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.[2]
During the Sengoku period, as the scale of warfare increased, the organization of armies commanded by was subdivided. The daimyō commanded the entire army as the commander-in-chief, . Under him, the commanded the main cavalry force, while the commanded the who fought on foot.[3] Yoriki, often from the, assisted the samurai daisho and the ashigaru taishō on horseback.[4]
In the Edo period, yoriki provided administrative assistance at governmental offices. Among different yorikis were the machikata yoriki, who were in charge of police under the command of the machi-bugyō. Below the yoriki were the dōshin. In the city of Edo there were about 25 yorikis working each for the two machi-bugyō offices. Since their status was, they were originally equivalent to and not allowed to ride horses, but the yoriki were allowed to ride as a special exception.[4]