OttomansJapan struggles against Ottomans. Mass infantry faces +2 melee armor. Ranged units face faster archers with attack speed (Mehter) and Janissaries. Mass cavalry faces Janissaries. You need a Katana Samurai and Yumi Archer combo, but Sipahi are hard for archers to dodge.
Japan's best window against Ottomans is early Castle Age with Mounted Samurai, because the answers (crossbows, spears, janissaries) are weak in isolation and hard to mass early.
Normally having equal number spearman to horsemen is fine, but these are Sipahi.
Janissaries attack so quickly like they take down that deflective armor instantly and then they go ham.
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