:Analyze why Japan adopted some European ideas while rejecting others during the 17th and 18th centuries

Japan adopted some of the European Ideals in the 17th and 18th century to advance their technology to become a world power. Japan adopted the ideals to support their own economy and militarize themselves. Examples of this are seen in the railroad building. Japan built railroads in a European fashion (even going as far as to hire Dutch for helping advance the railroad systems, called “Rangaku”) to move materials across land quickly, and help the economy. Japan was successful in these tactics, and the Tokugawa shogunate became one of the world powers in the 18th century. They didn’t want to have Europe control them, so they denied access to most Europeans (besides the rangaku), while only adopting the aspects that would improve Japan.