Japan is an impressive nation; both economically and politically. Geographically, it appears to be a miniscule island in the Pacific Ocean, but the power it has gained and exerted in the 20th century has shown it to be much more than that. Leading up to this state of power, Japan went through a range of political and social changes, drawing on the experience of other nations before withdrawing into themselves completely. This isolationist period is referred to as the Tokugawa shogunate, 1600-1881. It signalled a new era in a tumultuous Japan, spanning over 200 years, eventually crumbling and bringing the emergence of a modernised Japan. The arrival of the Black Ships in 1853 blatantly revealed the weaknesses of the Tokugawa shogunate. Given a year to respond to the treaties American Commodore Matthew Perry proposed, Japan showed lack of unity within the political regime as power struggles ensued between the shogunate, emperor and different classes of lords. Failing to come to a mutual agreement on how to deal with this foreign threat. The traditional and isolationist policy adopted by the Tokugawa also served as a major weakness in regards to a possibility of defence, the Japanese military was far too weak and unsophisticated to defend against a serious industrialised attack. The Black Ships not only exposed the weaknesses of the shogunate, they also served to put considerable pressure upon it- contributing to its demise as Modern Japan emerged. To understand the fall of this great family and political, social and economic regime it is imperative to understand the background, including the achievements and policies of the Tokugawa and the intentions of Matthew Perry and his fleet of black ships. Before, then moving on to the contributing factors of the fall. Naiyu-gaikin, troubles at home and dangers abroad, is a traditional term that demonstrates the internal and external threats. It brought forward a new power struggle between the leader of the shogunate, the bakufu and the provincial lords. The implication that the policy of Sakoku had on Japan's ability to interact with and forge foreign relations and finally the weakened state of the military. These policies were once the solid foundation of the Tokugawa shogunate, they served Japan well but as the world around it modernised and industrialised the traditions became obsolete against the growing powers. The Tokugawa Shogunate, also referred to as the Edo Period, served as a unifying and ultimately strong time within Japanese history. Coming to power in a volatile period of Japanese history, the Tokugawa not only brought about a time of relative peace and unification their reign spanned over two centuries. The Tokugawa refers to the name of a singular wealthy and powerful famil