When I think of warfare in Feudal Japan prior to the introduction of firearms, I think of Samurai charging into battle with their swords drawn. Is that accurate though? I imagine that sword-to-sword combat would be a little less common, and that cavalry with spears would have been more popular. Also, where would the archers have been placed? Would these battles have been similar to medieval European warfare? Finally, did Samurai really clash the way they are depicted in movies? Fast kills with the katana, swords clashing, etc?

Edit: I forgot to ask if Samurai would have been somewhat of a rarity in these battles. From what I recall of European warfare, not everyone who fought in battles were knights. I imagine this would be the case with Samurai, too. Would peasants and regular foot soldiers have joined in the battles?