Hand-in-hand with the merchants came the , led by Francis Xavier. Christianity found a foothold among several daimyo in Kyushu, who often converted to secure better trade terms with the Portuguese.
The Nanban era came to a crashing halt due to political instability and fear of colonization. The ruling Shogunate, particularly under and later the Tokugawa Shogunate , grew suspicious of the Christians' loyalty. They feared that the religion was a precursor to a Spanish or Portuguese invasion. nanban trade
The Nanban Trade: When Japan First Met the West The (南蛮貿易, Nanban bōeki , "Southern Barbarian trade") represents one of the most fascinating "what if" eras in global history. For nearly a century, from 1543 to 1641, Japan opened its doors to European influence, resulting in a dizzying exchange of technology, religion, and art that forever altered the trajectory of the Japanese archipelago. 1. The Arrival of the "Southern Barbarians" Hand-in-hand with the merchants came the , led