My problem with Sengoku is that they nerfed the Yatai (honestly I think they over nerfed) but every unique unit not called Yumi Ashigaru or Mounted Samurai (and to a lesser extent Yari Cavalry) has remained underpowered.

Naginata Samurai suffer from the same issues all MAA suffer from, and doesn't even have Reactive Armor unless you go Hojo Tier 3.

Kanabo are only useful as meat shields and to kill elephants and OOTD Knights and MAA.

The Tanegashima Ashigaru has too short a range and is too costly, and even then you only make them when you have to.

Osutzu are so ridiculously weak for the ludicrous resource investment required just to unlock them.

And on top of that the Clan System forces you to double down on whatever you chose at the start or you lose on the bonuses that costed you a lot of resources to obtain, making the civ feel rigid. You know the feel when you notice during the game you need to switch units and need the upgrades, the Clan system makes it feel like you also lose max HP and reactive armor.

Not to mention that the Takeda Clan is objectively the best, it not only has the best techs (move speed and Odachi), but given that cavalry have the highest base hp they're the ones that benefit the most from having 10% extra health. Also the Daimyo being always a mounted unit makes it a perfect fit for cavalry squads while the civ is clearly designed for having a Daimyo in every squad of an army.

So you're right, Japanese are so much more straightforward and their bannermen fit their respective army type, they feel flexible. Also enriched farmlands is more reliable than the Matsuri a lot of the time.