The statement that best summarizes the role of farmers, artisans, and merchants in feudal Japan is:
"All contributed to feudal Japanese society, but they were valued less because they did not have military expertise."
In feudal Japan, the samurai class was at the top of the social hierarchy due to their military role, while farmers, artisans, and merchants played important roles in the economy and society but were often viewed as lower in status compared to the samurai.