The problem with the CT models used for Aslans is that in the Japanese society samurai were almost never solely warriors, but most were philosophers, poets, theologians, lawyers, and scientists, but above all property and human resources managers! Shogunate advisors were almost all samurai cast, and had to work on political, economic and diplomatic problem solving. Women (wives) also participated in this, but 'behind the scenes'. Moreover, by Edo period some samurai were coming from the shinobi class (e.g. ninja), and spying requires a considerable and broad scope of knowledge of the most diverse kind.
The other problem is basing Aslan behaviour on the lions. In the pride the job for hunting is that of the females! Lionesses are therefore more accomplished at 'combat' because they form teams and literally use tactics to kill. Male lions rarely participate, their primary role being to sire cubs and prevent pride takeover by other males. Territorial claims are a part of this, but as was mentioned by Tim (?), the pride ranges far and wide, and prides tend not to be confrontational should they meed at the edges of their territories. The problem is lone young males. Fortunatelly male lions lack stamina to range too widely. If one can't join a pride or gain one through a coalition with other single males, they often die alone.
And then there is genetic modification that the Ancients would have done to 'improve' the species, though this is not canon (or is it?)
It is HIGHLY doubtful that the Ancients would have used the Japanese society as a model for the Aslans because it didn't exist yet!
It is also highly doubtful that the lion behavioural model would have been used as is because it isn't the most successful predator behaviour. As it happens, despite the impressive pride hunting tactics and the male lion's strength and 'look', the most successful apex feline predator is the leopard/jaguar. It is the only apex predator that not ony survived the encroachment of Humanity, but expanded its range and population despite this encroachment since the mid-19th century. This is because it is a lone ambush hunter, and not a team chaser. It literally presents a more elusive and smaller target to its predators, human beings. Lions also have
low stamina and could spend 12-20 hours recouperating from a hunt, which I think is not the case with leopards who spend far less energy hunting.
The emphasis on land in the CT canon is really something that the Ancients would have tried to remove from the species because as the above study found "The central insight of Packer’s career is this: lions evolved to dominate the savanna, not to share it." This prevents higher social organisation formation, and thus no civilization. But, contrary to several mentions in the canon, male lions also form groups, and the pride will almost always have a team of at least two mature males to lead and secure it. As many as seven single males may team up to effect a pride takeover. This is a positive behavioural trait, and contrary to the CT canon disinherited later-birthorder males being sent off to war. An Aslan firstborn male is VERY LIKELY to have his sibling male as his primary ally/supporter/advisor/partner rather than a female, regardless of her prowess with money.
GregC