Were samurai ever mercenaries

Answer 1

Yes. The samurai themselves began as a sort of mercenary force -in the sense of 'warrior-for-hire'- and for much of recorded Japanese history it was common for the survivors of the losing side of a battle to become soldiers of fortune. After the Tokugawa clan united Japan, many warriors fled the country, not only from the defeat itself, but also if the samurai were Christian converts, since Christianity was outlawed under the Tokugawa. Such warrior exiles served many nationalities, and were often prized, not for fancy swords, or mythical skills (although they were still respected as elite warriors), but for their -almost wreckless- daring and total disregard for their own lives in battle.

The most famous such mercenary was Yamada Nagamasa, who established a Japanese settlement under the patronage of the king of Ayutthaya (modern day Thailand), where they were highly valued for their martial skills and made elite bodyguards. It was also recorded that the king of Cambodia was grateful for warriors of his Japanese settlement for helping him crush a rebellion. Similarly, the Spanish, the Dutch, and the Portuguese employed them to crush revolts in their newly acquired colonies accross South and South East Asia as well as in battles against eachother. For example, the Portuguese used samurai mercenaries in the Siege of Malacca in 1606, where they supposedly served with distinction against the Dutch.

Answer 2

Yes, samurai were occasionally hired as mercenaries. In times of peace, some samurai would seek employment with other clans or warlords, offering their services as warriors in exchange for payment or land. This practice, known as "goyo-shi," allowed samurai to supplement their income and gain practical experience. However, it was more common for samurai to serve their own lords and uphold their honor and loyalty to their respective clans.