Luís Fróis's records contained the following: Toyotomi Hideyoshi had planned to move the capital in Tensho 11, or 1583, relocating the Mikado's palace from Kyoto to the Nakajima area north of Osaka Castle, an island surrounded by rivers. There was a temple district to the north of this area, but the plan was never completed. Two years later, Hongan-ji acquired part of the land and relocated there, turning Kawanakajima into land for temples and townspeople.
Townspeople was a Japanese term for urban residents. "Town" referred to streets and communities. During the Muromachi Shogunate, townspeople mainly referred to Kyoto's craftsmen, though it later included the merchant class as well—in other words, everyone living in a castle town.
Powerful clans and samurai lived in castles, while townspeople provided them with services. Under Toyotomi Hideyoshi's regime, daimyo likewise built or renovated castles and castle towns within their own domains, all displaying the characteristics of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's urban policies. In this way, they governed their territories and strengthened their own power.
Within Toyotomi Hideyoshi's regime, Mitsunari was perhaps the most outstanding in governing his domain. His territory included Nagahama. Nagahama Castle had been Toyotomi Hideyoshi's residence in his early years. Although, after the Battle of Sekigahara, all records connected to the defeated Mitsunari were destroyed, the townspeople carefully preserved the laws he had issued. Some of them concerned castle construction.
After becoming Taiko, Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the Nagahama region an ink-stamped document exempting it from annual tribute forever. When Saga-yama Castle was being built, Nagahama was also ordered to provide laborers. The people of Nagahama immediately produced Toyotomi Hideyoshi's document and firmly resisted the corvée labor. They even elected representatives and went directly to Fushimi Castle to petition Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Fushimi Castle acknowledged the document and ordered Mitsunari to exempt the people of Nagahama