Someone pls explain why

Did not say forced. They just turned up, bit like missionaries.

It's entirely possible to be unwelcome but still be treated with respect.

That kind of does nothing of the sort, but anyway. Didn't have much to do with the west, or them acquiring western technology, or 1854 either, or WWII, but still, whatever makes you feel good, I guess. EDit: Or them turning expansionist.
EDit:
They kept both the chinese and the dutch on Dejima, off-shore, and the trading with the dutch consisted mainly, if not entirely, of low-tech stuff like silk for copper, as far as I can recall. It's been a while since I read up on it.

Well history would seem to disagree with you... some nice pictures of the Dutch here BTW... http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/japaneseprints/

Funny I thought Nagasaki was on the mainland.
 
Here you go Snee


And some more
The policy stated that the only European influence permitted was the Dutch factory (trading post) at Dejima in Nagasaki. Trade with China was also handled at Nagasaki. In addition, trade with Korea was conducted via the Tsushima Domain (today part of Nagasaki Prefecture), with the Ainu via the Matsumae Domain in Hokkaidō, and with the Ryūkyū Kingdom via the Satsuma Domain (in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture). Apart from these direct commercial contacts in peripheral provinces, all of these countries sent regular tributary missions to the shogunate's seat in Edo. As the emissaries traveled across Japan, Japanese citizens caught a glimpse of foreign cultures.
 
Well history would seem to disagree with you... some nice pictures of the Dutch here BTW... http://www.iisg.nl/exhibitions/japaneseprints/

Funny I thought Nagasaki was on the mainland.

:blink:

From your site said:
From the 1630s to the middle of the nineteenth century, Japan was practically closed to foreigners. The only Westerners allowed to stay in Japan and engage in trade were the Dutch. They had to submit to very strict regulations, however, and were only allowed to live on Deshima, a small artificial island in Nagasaki harbor
 
Here you go Snee
Exotic curiosities...yes, like a fleet of steam ships, and modern weaponry.

Oh, no, wait, that was after 1854, silly me.

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the term the west, as I'm using it. I'm referring to Europe and the Americas, perhaps you've heard of them?..

And some more
The policy stated that the only European influence permitted was the Dutch factory (trading post) at Dejima in Nagasaki. Trade with China was also handled at Nagasaki. In addition, trade with Korea was conducted via the Tsushima Domain (today part of Nagasaki Prefecture), with the Ainu via the Matsumae Domain in Hokkaidō, and with the Ryūkyū Kingdom via the Satsuma Domain (in present-day Kagoshima Prefecture). Apart from these direct commercial contacts in peripheral provinces, all of these countries sent regular tributary missions to the shogunate's seat in Edo. As the emissaries traveled across Japan, Japanese citizens caught a glimpse of foreign cultures.

...doesn't quite sound like it.

They let emissaries from "local" nations travel to the shogunate seat AND did some trading with other countries in the region, though, that's got to mean something. Well, not really anything wrt what I've been saying, or them turning expansionist after having the merkins pressure them, but still.

EDit: Ryukyu was running frikkin Okinawa as late as 1879 according to wikipedia, I did not know that, kewl.
 
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