Question

Why did the Tokugawa shogunate close Japan to foreign influence?

Answer 1

Prevent the spread of western ideas in particular Christianity.

As Europeans were exploring Asian countries with the goal of creating trade agreements, many areas were experiencing a push of western culture. To prevent the influence of western culture, the Tokugawa Shogunate refused westerners and made western culture unlawful. Christianity was considered particularly harmful to Japanese culture and hierarchy. The Shogun removed missionaries from the country and made the practice of Christianity illegal. The samurai also resented western influence because it promoted the status of merchants and degraded their own position in society.

Answer 2

The main cause for Japan's isolationism was to avert the spread of Christianity.
Several Edicts were issued throughout the early years of the Tokugawa Shogunate, declaring isolation, Each edict grew more and more forceful in its condemnation of Christianity.