In the castle of Osaka, when I was there, dwelt the son of Tiquasama, who was the true heir of Japan; but being an infant at the death of his father, he was left under the guardianship of four chiefs or great men, of whom Ogoshosama, the present emperor, was the principal.  The other three guardians were each desirous of acquiring the sovereignty, and being opposed by Ogoshosama, levied armies against him; but Ogoshosama defeated them in battle, in which two of them were slain, and the other saved himself by flight.  After this great victory, Ogoshosama attempted what he is said not to have thought of before.  Seizing the true heir of the throne, he married the young prince to his own daughter, and confined them in the castle of Osaka, under the charge of such persons only as had been brought up from their childhood under the roof of the usurper, so that by their means he has regular intelligence of every thing they do.

Right opposite to Osaka, on the other side of the river Jodo, there is another town called Sakay, not so large as Osaka, but of considerable extent, and having great trade to all the neighbouring country.  Having left samples and lists of prices of all our commodities with our host at Osaka, we departed from that place on the night of the 29th of August in a bark, and arrived at Fusima next night, where we found a garrison of 3000 men, maintained there by the emperor, to keep Miaco and Osaka under subjection.  This garrison is shifted every third year, and the relief took place while we were there, so that we saw the old bands march away and the new enter, which they did in a most soldier-like manner.  They marched five abreast, and to every ten files or fifty men there was a captain, who kept his men in excellent order.  Their shot marched first, being calivers, for they have no muskets and will not use any, then followed pikes, next swords or cattans and targets, these were followed by bows and arrows, and then a band armed with weapons called waggadashes, resembling Welsh hooks:  These were succeeded by calivers, and so on as before; but without any ensigns or colours; neither had they any drums or other warlike instruments of music.  The first file of the band armed with cattans had silver scabbards, and the last file which marched next the captain had their scabbards of gold.  The companies or bands were of various numbers, some 500, some 300, and some only of 150 men.  In the middle of every band there were three horses very richly caparisoned, their saddles being covered by costly furs, or velvet, or stammel broad-cloths.  Every horse was attended by three slaves, who led them in silken halters, and their eyes were hoodwinked by means of leathern covers.