It is said that over 3,000 students studied at the school during the disturbances of the 10-year civil war (Onin War) starting in the 15th century. Praising the results, the Roman Catholic missionary, Saint Francis Xavier introduced Ashikaga to the world as the largest and most famous university of Japan. Today buildings have been restored, and visitors can view classrooms in their original historic form and join a program reading The Analects of Confucius on Sundays.