All samurai were expected to be fluent in both language and mathematics. Those who were not, like Toyotomi Hideyoshi, usually found themselves at a disadvantage. Samurai were also expected to have an interest in the arts, such as dancing, poetry...etc, as well. This made them not only warrior but also intellectuals. Although their lifestyle seemed ideal to most, samurai often found themselves no better off economically than the common peasant. Most of the income provided for their services was supplied in rice, and rising inflation often left many straddling the poverty line. Reluctantly, many became merchants, an occupation regarded by many as shameful, to support themselves.

Marriages were common and most were arranged. Most of the brides of samurais belonged to samurai families, with a small exception being commoners. After the union between husband and wife, sons were expected of the women. The eldest son usually succeeded his father. This practice did however bring about rivalry between siblings. Further complicating the matter of succession was the plight of those children born outside of marriage, for you see samurais usually had lots of children provided by their mistresses. If a samurai did indeed die without a male heir, he could adopt a fellow samurai from another family. In return the young man would marry into his adopted father's family. So, as you can see marriages were not products of love as displayed by the ‘movies’. All samurai marriages were carefully arranged along political line.