why did westerners not conquer Japan in 18th century?

**visser300** · April 19, 2011, 01:08 AM

Most of Asian countries at the time were colonized by westerners. Even huge countries such as India and China could not escape the fate.

I've read the Jap history book and they said that the indistrialized period happened after 1850, so Jap would have no chance to fight against super power European countries before the time.

Jap is very near China, Korea, Russia and Mongol. It's a perfect natural military base for any military power to monitor East Asia and pacific ocean (well, McArthur did realize that so he didnt destroy Japan after conquering it).

A weak nation, a perfect military location. so why no one care to conquer it at the time?

**kevindrosario** · April 19, 2011, 01:10 AM

Every time they tried they got killed by ninjas so they gave up.

**megalitho** · April 19, 2011, 01:40 AM

what is the relation to BC? ohh.. irony -- ok

**nnnm** · April 19, 2011, 01:49 AM

lolz

**matmohair1** · April 19, 2011, 03:27 AM

most if not all the factions in BC where later enslaved by western colonial powers
Japan was too far to be invaded and both Korea and China may have acted as buffers - making Japan able to create modernizing reforms without objection or trickery from Europe or America.

colonial powers always need help from internal national rebels to enable them to infiltrate weakening regimes
- the internal political structures within japan were less understood by the colonial powers who were more interested in coveting the rich resources of Africa, south Asia and the south America.

japan had less resources and wasn't much of a catch by then - why conquer a land with less resources

( Long Distances Open Sea Travel Attrition may have played a large part, probably 90 % - LOL )

**visser300** · April 19, 2011, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by matmohair1

most if not all the factions in BC where later enslaved by western colonial powers
Japan was too far to be invaded and both Korea and China may have acted as buffers - making Japan able to create modernizing reforms without objection or trickery from Europe or America.

colonial powers always need help from internal national rebels to enable them to infiltrate weakening regimes
- the internal political structures within japan were less understood by the colonial powers who were more interested in coveting the rich resources of Africa, south Asia and the south America.

japan had less resources and wasn't much of a catch by then - why conquer a land with less resources

( Long Distances Open Sea Travel Attrition may have played a large part, probably 90 % - LOL )

Well I'm not convinced. At the time, most Europe major powers was able to transport their army to conquer China which was very near Jap. If they could go to China and established their colonies overthere, why couldnt they do it with Jap?

**sumskilz** · April 19, 2011, 05:53 AM

The US used intimidation to force the Japanese into a number of economic treaties which naturally benefited the US more than the Japanese. Having seen what happened to China and realizing they were at a technological disadvantage, the Japanese decided not to resist, but instead to modernize and bide their time until they could get a piece of the pie for themselves (carve out their own empire and compete with the Westerners). The US had no reason to try to conquer Japan because it was getting what it wanted. US economic interests in Japan kept European powers from acting overly aggressive since to do so would be stepping on the US's toes which was clearly not worth it to them, especially since the US was willing to share the wealth to some degree.