<P> In a letter to Father Ignatius Loyola at Rome, Xavier further noted the education of the upper classes: </P> <P> The Nobles send their sons to monasteries to be educated as soon as they are 8 years old, and they remain there until they are 19 or 20, learning reading, writing and religion; as soon as they come out, they marry and apply themselves to politics . They are discreet, magnanimous and lovers of virtue and letters, honouring learned men very much . </P> <P> In a letter dated 11 November 1549, Xavier described a multi-tiered educational system in Japan consisting of "universities", "colleges", "academies" and hundreds of monasteries that served as a principal center for learning by the populace: </P> <P> But now we must give you an account of our stay at Cagoxima . We put into that port because the wind was adverse to our sailing to Meaco, which is the largest city in Japan, and most famous as the residence of the King and the Princes . It is said that after four months are passed the favourable season for a voyage to Meaco will return, and then with the good help of God we shall sail thither . The distance from Cagoxima is three hundred leagues . We hear wonderful stories about the size of Meaco: they say that it consists of more than ninety thousand dwellings . There is a very famous University there, as well as five chief colleges of students, and more than two hundred monasteries of bonzes, and of others who are like coenobites, called Legioxi, as well as of women of the same kind, who are called Hamacutis . Besides this of Meaco, there are in Japan five other principal academies, at Coya, at Negu, at Fisso, and at Homia . These are situated round Meaco, with short distances between them, and each is frequented by about three thousand five hundred scholars . Besides these there is the Academy at Bandou, much the largest and most famous in all Japan, and at a great distance from Meaco . Bandou is a large territory, ruled by six minor princes, one of whom is more powerful than the others and is obeyed by them, being himself subject to the King of Japan, who is called the Great King of Meaco . The things that are given out as to the greatness and celebrity of these universities and cities are so wonderful as to make us think of seeing them first with our own eyes and ascertaining the truth, and then when we have discovered and know how things really are, of writing an account of them to you . They say that there are several lesser academies besides those which we have mentioned . </P>

The samurai ruled japan during which of the following periods