How was japan during the samurai period different?

Back then samurais were needed for protection and/or war, the imperial palace would have them serve as guards, and some Lords or higher ups would have them go into battle, but now Higher ups and the emperor's have highly trained body guards so there is no need for samurais.

Because of the Tokugawa isolation trough the 1800 hundreds, the

samurais remained as a gentle administrative assistance. The

samurais in some fashion traded theyre swords for pens.