Fin vs History Chandler Bing & The Easy Peelers | Feudal Japan (Part 4)
Oct 16, 2025
Dive into the quirky intersection of history and pop culture! Discover how Matthew Perry, yes that Matthew Perry, played a role in Japan's imperial restoration. Explore Tokugawa Iemitsu’s intriguing reforms that shaped the economy. Learn about Japan's Closed Country Policy and its impact on isolationism. Marvel at the cultural exchanges between American minstrel shows and Japanese kabuki. Finally, unravel the complex events leading to the Meiji Restoration and Japan's rapid transformation into a modern power.
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Sankin-Kotai Centralized Japan
- Tokugawa Iemitsu's sankin-kotai forced daimyo to alternate residence, centralizing power and draining regional autonomy.
- The policy stimulated commerce and infrastructure while turning daimyo families into hostages in Edo.
Isolation Shaped Unique Development
- Sakoku (1630s) stopped ocean-going vessels and barred return of Japanese abroad, sharply limiting foreign influence.
- This isolation let Japan develop a distinct culture but left it technologically behind European powers.
Faith Viewed As Political Threat
- Christianity and foreign guns triggered paranoia; authorities saw Christianity as a political threat, not just a religion.
- That fear justified brutal crackdowns and strict limits on Western contact.