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Hokkaido historically was an undeveloped and underpopulated part of the Japanese Islands. In the late 1800s Hokkaido only had a population of 50000 which is really small for an island of that size. Hokkaido's population only began to grow to more considerable numbers after the introduction of American farming techniques.
Considering Hokkaido's lack of development and lack of people could a European power have colonized the island during the 18th or 19th century, or even earlier?