<Li> In 1647 Portuguese warships attempted to enter Nagasaki . The Japanese formed a blockade of almost 900 boats to stop the ships . After the event, the Japanese added more security to Nagasaki as fears rose that other countries would challenge the new seclusion policy and attempt to enter through Nagasaki . </Li> <Li> In 1738, a Russian naval squadron (including Martin Spangberg) visited the island of Honshu . The Russians landed in a scenic area which is now part of the Rikuchu Kaigan National Park . Despite the prevalent seclusion policy, the sailors were treated with politeness if not friendliness . </Li> <Li> In 1778, a merchant from Yakutsk by the name of Pavel Lebedev - Lastochkin arrived in Hokkaidō with a small expedition . He offered gifts, and politely asked to trade in vain . </Li> <Li> In 1787, Jean - François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse navigated in Japanese waters . He visited the Ryūkyū islands and the strait between Hokkaidō and Sakhalin, naming it after himself . </Li>

Beginning in 1587 japan closed itself off to the rest of the world to