A feudal system that had many regional rulers or families who plead allegiance to the prime ruler – the shogun.

When in the presence of the Shogun these samurai could not bear weapons and the only weapons in the room were his.

He rules through subjugation and strength with absolute power.

In responding to outsiders seeking trade with Japan, the Shogun decided to seek a ruling from the Imperial Court, it caused considerable confusion since it questioned the authority of the Shogun.

Samurai mainly from southern Japan plotted to bring an end to the Tokugawa Shogunate and to return political power to the Emperor by force.

In response, the 15th Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, summoned senior vassals from 40 domains who were resident in Kyoto to the Ohiroma of Ninomaru-goten Palace on October 13, 1867, and solicited their opinions.

On the following day, the Shogun announced his intention to return political authority to the Imperial family.

The US first forced Japan open on July 8, 1853, when Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay with four heavily armed warships to demand trade. Perry’s expedition, a display of American power, ended over 200 years of Japanese self-imposed isolation and led to the signing of the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, which opened Japan to American ships and merchants.

The rest they say is history..