The duties of the Sakimori guards were harsh: They had to travel long distances from eastern Japan to Kyushu by themselves, and they had to procure their own food and arms while they were performing duties.
防人とは厳しい任務であり、遠い東国から九州までは自力で移動せねばならず、さらにその任務期間中の兵は食糧も武器も各自で調達しなければならない。