Question

What are some differences between feudal Europe and feudal Japan?

Answer 1

The basic fundamental difference between European and Japanese feudalism was that in Europe the feudal system was based on "Reciprocity" whilst in Japan it was based on "Obligation".

European feudalism (although a huge extortion racket) was based on the idea that the feudal Lord provided protection for the peasantry, who provided the landowning Lord with food, taxes and soldiers when his feudal Lord required them ie a "reciprocal" arrangement. We still have the echo of that reciprocity in the phrase "Noblesse Oblige" meaning that with power, wealth and prestige etc comes responsibility.

Japanese feudalism was all about "Obligation" to your feudal superior. The peasant/serf answered to the samurai, who answered to the Daimyo, who probably answered to a more powerful Daimyo all the way up to the Shogun and the Emperor. There was no reciprocal responsibility element to it. It was simply one-way obligation.