but the prince was not allowed to live an idle life long. when he was about thirty years old, news was brought that the ainu race, the aborigines of the islands of japan, who had been conquered and pushed northwards by the japanese, had rebelled in the eastern provinces, and leaving the vicinity which had been allotted to them were causing great trouble in the land. the king decided that it was necessary to send an army to do battle with them and bring them to reason. but who was to lead the men?