I'll look at this a bit more closely tomorrow; late night shift here now.
But a few points worth remembering: Japan was opened up not by the British but by the US, when the US sent a fleet of ships uninvited into Tokyo bay and essentially told the Japanese, you MUST trade with us or we'll blow you to smithereens. Up until this time, Japan only allowed very limited trade with the Netherlands at two specific ports; for all other intents and purposes, Japan was closed to the outside world.
I don't doubt that the Bankers played a big part in all the machinations of the Meiji era, but its also true that history has other driving forces, including good ones (God) and so many developments cannot be rightfully viewed in a purely simplistic manner.
Much as I love Japan, there needs to be a recognition that the Tokugawa shogunate was extremely brutal and savage as much as it was beautiful and unique. It needed to change. It couldn't survive in a world where Japan was not a hermit nation (much like North Korea is now).
When Japan annexed Korea to be part of their empire, the Koreans were treated as brutally and abused as much as any nation of people can be.
This is a myth. Japan had outside contact from the time of the Spanish occupation of Mexico. They sent samurai to different parts of the world including Germany, Spain, and Mexico when the Aztec where still alive under Spanish occupation.
No, it is not a myth. The Tokugawa Bakufu/Shogunate brought in the period of Sakoku/isolation. Jesuits were using religion to take control over the country and Tokugawa saw what was happening and not only kicked out the foreigners, but massacred Japanese Christians. Only the Dutch were allowed to trade and had access to Nagasaki. I've walked those streets and enjoyed the Dutch architecture myself. The Dutch were Protestant and were not up to the shenanigans that the Catholics/Jesuits were. (Interestingly enough, that same group really screwed their chance of China becoming a Christian nation too, when the Vatican tried to micromanage proselytization of China long-distance.) But outside of Nagasaki, the rest of the country was closed to the rest of the world.
Japanese elementary children know who Commodore Perry was, but he's not well-known at all in the USA. He was the emissary sent to Japan to open the country at gunpoint, which ushered in the Meiji Era. Then the banksters got involved, with Jacob Schiff manipulating Japan to go to war with Russia to weaken it for the communists to take over. I'm sure they were egging Japan on to become imperialist with the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (which was rather one-sided as far as "co-prosperity" goes).
Yes, there were samurai emissaries who went as far as the Vatican during the Sengoku Period. Nobunaga was a Christian himself, and he was the one who unified Japan. That all ended during the period of isolation.
Being aware and being open are not the same thing.
During that period (later 1500s, early 1600s) Hideyoshi attempted to invade Korea and take it over. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi's predecessor, apparently engaged with the Vatican and Jesuits because he wanted to gain the benefits of technology, etc. But Tokugawa, how came after Hideyoshi, shut the whole thing down and it began a capital crime to enter or leave Japan.
The exceptions were the Dutch, as Steve mentions.
However, Steve, this is the first I've heard of Nobunaga being Christian. I'm wondering where you're sourcing that from?
Not to sound like a fag, but those old black and white pictures of Samurai at different worlds wonders, looking like stereotypical Japanese tourists, except with swords and battle gear, are the cutest thing I've ever seen grown men do. Barbarism is necessary, in different times, but I think they struck a good balance (as a solution for their own problems, by their own people) between force and diplomacy. They should be allowed to be a hermit nation if they want to.
You will NOT hide away in your native country enjoying your ancestral culture. You will NOT live in peace under your king. You WILL accept international banking debt. You WILL allow browns to jump your border and create slums in your central cities. You WILL reduce your population below replacement rate. You WILL suck the female penis. And you WILL be happy
I'll look at this a bit more closely tomorrow; late night shift here now.
But a few points worth remembering: Japan was opened up not by the British but by the US, when the US sent a fleet of ships uninvited into Tokyo bay and essentially told the Japanese, you MUST trade with us or we'll blow you to smithereens. Up until this time, Japan only allowed very limited trade with the Netherlands at two specific ports; for all other intents and purposes, Japan was closed to the outside world.
I don't doubt that the Bankers played a big part in all the machinations of the Meiji era, but its also true that history has other driving forces, including good ones (God) and so many developments cannot be rightfully viewed in a purely simplistic manner.
Much as I love Japan, there needs to be a recognition that the Tokugawa shogunate was extremely brutal and savage as much as it was beautiful and unique. It needed to change. It couldn't survive in a world where Japan was not a hermit nation (much like North Korea is now).
When Japan annexed Korea to be part of their empire, the Koreans were treated as brutally and abused as much as any nation of people can be.
This is a myth. Japan had outside contact from the time of the Spanish occupation of Mexico. They sent samurai to different parts of the world including Germany, Spain, and Mexico when the Aztec where still alive under Spanish occupation.
Japanfag has entered the chat!
No, it is not a myth. The Tokugawa Bakufu/Shogunate brought in the period of Sakoku/isolation. Jesuits were using religion to take control over the country and Tokugawa saw what was happening and not only kicked out the foreigners, but massacred Japanese Christians. Only the Dutch were allowed to trade and had access to Nagasaki. I've walked those streets and enjoyed the Dutch architecture myself. The Dutch were Protestant and were not up to the shenanigans that the Catholics/Jesuits were. (Interestingly enough, that same group really screwed their chance of China becoming a Christian nation too, when the Vatican tried to micromanage proselytization of China long-distance.) But outside of Nagasaki, the rest of the country was closed to the rest of the world.
Japanese elementary children know who Commodore Perry was, but he's not well-known at all in the USA. He was the emissary sent to Japan to open the country at gunpoint, which ushered in the Meiji Era. Then the banksters got involved, with Jacob Schiff manipulating Japan to go to war with Russia to weaken it for the communists to take over. I'm sure they were egging Japan on to become imperialist with the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere (which was rather one-sided as far as "co-prosperity" goes).
Yes, there were samurai emissaries who went as far as the Vatican during the Sengoku Period. Nobunaga was a Christian himself, and he was the one who unified Japan. That all ended during the period of isolation.
Thanks for some insight there.
My point was that Japan was open and well aware of others as far back as 1400-1600
Being aware and being open are not the same thing.
During that period (later 1500s, early 1600s) Hideyoshi attempted to invade Korea and take it over. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi's predecessor, apparently engaged with the Vatican and Jesuits because he wanted to gain the benefits of technology, etc. But Tokugawa, how came after Hideyoshi, shut the whole thing down and it began a capital crime to enter or leave Japan.
The exceptions were the Dutch, as Steve mentions.
However, Steve, this is the first I've heard of Nobunaga being Christian. I'm wondering where you're sourcing that from?
Steve, if you are insinuating that I'm not a Japanfag, I may have to file a complaint with the Greater Tokyo Metropolitan District Court.
Just saying.
Well, I am Japanfaggier than you. So there.
Not to sound like a fag, but those old black and white pictures of Samurai at different worlds wonders, looking like stereotypical Japanese tourists, except with swords and battle gear, are the cutest thing I've ever seen grown men do. Barbarism is necessary, in different times, but I think they struck a good balance (as a solution for their own problems, by their own people) between force and diplomacy. They should be allowed to be a hermit nation if they want to.
Agreed.
You will NOT hide away in your native country enjoying your ancestral culture. You will NOT live in peace under your king. You WILL accept international banking debt. You WILL allow browns to jump your border and create slums in your central cities. You WILL reduce your population below replacement rate. You WILL suck the female penis. And you WILL be happy