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As we know. The Tokugawa Shogunate after the Sengoku Era lead Japan into a few hundred years of Isolationism which sadly it seems was the ongoing trend in te region.

The Isolationism, which in several cases was not a complete Isolationism but, is still blamed for the general backwardness of Japan by the 19th Century. We all know how that turned out.

Not to completely knock on Isolationism as it did allow Japan a sense of cultural Hegenmony and to control practically its entire population. It also more then likely kept it out of a few wars that could have occurred in the region.

Still, as we saw in OTL when Japan did come out of its isolationism it came out of it with a vigor that promptly set it on the course of industrialization and modernization...in a region that had long since been dominated by European and American powers this leading it to step on quite a few toes in World War Two. Not to mention Xenophobia.

What if, Japan had on the contrary not been so isolationist? More the. Likely it would have come into conflict with the Europeans and Americans much earlier as everyone made a grab for the region. It is also possible that instead of losing Japan may have won and have a much more stronger Prescence across the Pacific Basin.

Thoughts?
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