WI Japan never isolates itself.

[NapoleonXIV]

In 1600, when Tokugawa Ieyasu began establishing the dynasty of Shoguns that would rule to 1867 Japan was not isolationist and certainly not backward to the West. Japanese guns were, at this point, sought throughout the world and most of the Daimyo were fielding armies larger than many in Europe. It was only the Jesuits and the example of what they were beginning to do to China that caused Ieyasu and his immediate successors to see the West as a great danger rather than a great opportunity.

WI the new Shogun had decided to look outward rather than inward to establish the stability he saw as necessary; and decided that the huge and experienced army his unification of the Warring States had given him could find employment in establishing the Greater East Asian co-Prosperity Sphere about 300 years early?

[DuQuense]

It was this two centuries of Isolation that set Japan apart from the other Asian Societies. If Japan Had taken Korea in the 1600's, and gone on to pick up Formosa . It would have evolved closer to France's England. This would have prevented both Japan, & China from closing themselves off.

[Romulus Augustulus]

Nah. I'd say that they'd have fallen victim to foreign imperialism. Dutch Japan, anyone?

[JHPier]

Nah. I'd say that they'd have fallen victim to foreign imperialism. Dutch Japan, anyone? Don't be ridiculous, the few thousand soldiers each European power had in Asia would be no match at all for the Japanese army of this day. If it had wanted to Japan could have taken all the islands of SEAsia. Korea would be trickier, the Japanes had already tried and failed in the 1590's.

[cow defender]

those japanese are wily, let the dutch get a toehold but some japs hold off.....

[Cockroach]

Don't be ridiculous, the few thousand soldiers each European power had in Asia would be no match at all for the Japanese army of this day. If it had wanted to Japan could have taken all the islands of SEAsia. Korea would be trickier, the Japanes had already tried and failed in the 1590's.
Yes and no, the main problem for Japan against the various European colonies would be the lack of ships comparable to the European built ships in the region. I mean it doesn't matter how good your army is if it all ends up on the sea floor after an encounter with a hostile navy.
Nah. I'd say that they'd have fallen victim to foreign imperialism. Dutch Japan, anyone?
No initally at any rate as the Japanese armies are simply too big. However I would expect that sooner or later Japan will end up in a close alliance with one or other of the European powers.