When Europe was at its most colonizingest, why did it not try

Portugal got in there. Also islands are hard to conquer.

>>2240089
>I mean when Japan was still at a medieval level of technology and trying to isolate itself from the world.

Not after Meiji

>>2240094
Sure, but it had two hundred years to colonize it before it modernized.
>>2240090
Islands aren't that hard to conquer when you have a thousand year technology advantage.

Actually, there were settlements and trading posts set up by European countries in Japan, but the Japanese rulers quickly realised the danger and in the late 17th century stamped down hard on the perceived threat. At one point, there were hundreds of thousands of Christians living in Japan, but the religion, along with firearms and overseas travel, became strictly prohibited.

When the colonial powers tried again in the 19th century, Japan modernised exceptionally quickly and was ready to decend itself. It was not an easy target, despite its attractive location.

well they are like the only non whites that managed to become civilized (except turks but 1. they aren't *really* civilized 2. the ones who are are just corrupted greeks 3. they are kind of white-ish as well let's admit it) all by themselves
which is remarkable and very impressive and out of respect for that i think they shouldn't be colonized

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>>2240131
Sure, sure, but they had until 1868 to colonize Japan. Why do nothing that entire time?

>>2240140

The typical story of colonisation is never a straight, overnight invasion. Take the British occupation of India for example. It was acheiced through decades of the UK becoming increasingly entangled and dependent on Indian politics and trade, first taking Benghal and then the entire continent.

Japan prevented this kind of cultural and political take-over by murdering every westerner who landed on their shore, and executing entire villages for each Christian convert. Japan had a strong, united political system, with a large population and was halfway across the world. It wasn't worth the effort.

>>2240089
>why did it not try to colonize Japan
Uh, it did. Russia tried multiple times to bully the Japanese into becoming a colony. The only thing that prevented it was Britain intervening.

>>2240089
because they had nothing of interest... their iron was worthless and all other natural resources could be stripped from china... why go through the trouble of conquering an earthquake ridden island that has 0 things to give to you?

>>2240089
>Europe even took over China

Open a history book nigger

Also open a geography book nigger

Also open an economics 101 book nigger

>>2240140
It helps that Japan was really far as can be from Europe, and had absolutely nothing that Europeans wanted.

The fact that it was also politically united means it would have been more hassle than it was worth.
Africa still had plenty of "vacant" spots too, so why bother with a worthless far east archipelago?

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>>2240089
too busy COLONIZING negresses

>>2240248
tea and silk and china (pottery) and later gold were pretty valuable to Europeans

but it is very difficult to get into the island, and it's mountainous/easy to fortify. difficult to establish a navy in the region due to the more than occasional typhoon.

europeans still colonized taiwan though so they would've taken it if they could've. They were lucky M. C. Perry was their wakeup call.

>After the signing of the treaty, the Americans presented the Japanese with a miniature steam locomotive, a telegraph apparatus, various agricultural tools, and small arms, as well as one hundred gallons of whiskey, clocks, stoves, and books about the United States. The Japanese responded with gold-lacquered furniture and boxes, bronze ornaments, porcelain goblets and upon learning of Perry’s personal hobby, a collection of seashells.