106 334 (community total) + 25 (my reviews) = 106 359
9 Likes
106359 (community total) + 34 (my reviews) = 106393
8 Likes
106393(community total) + 100 (my reviews) = 106493
9 Likes
106493 (community total) + 160 (my reviews) = 106653
10 Likes
106653 (community total) + 23 (my reviews) = 106676
9 Likes
106676 (community total) + 79 (my reviews) = 106755
11 Likes
106755 (community total) + 50 (my reviews) = 106810
so close now (â_â;)
11 Likes
106810 + 23 = 106833
11 Likes
106833 (community total) + 1275 (my reviews, since the 21st) = 108108
Almost there! 
11 Likes
108108 (community total) + 43 (my reviews, 3 days) = 108151
About 296 years in: ~1859
Tokugawa Iesada only held the title of Shogun for 5 years, he was already a sickly person, and died in 1858 of suspected cholera. From 1858 to 1860 there was a huge cholera outbreak that killed up to 200,000 people just in Edo alone. Before he died, he signed the âHarris Treatyâ which was the follow up to the âConvention of Kanagawaâ which was negotiated with Perry a few years earlier. This treaty further forced open the country to trade significantly more than Perry first deal, as well as allowing foreign merchants to live in the trade cities. In the same year Britain, France, Russia and the Netherlands pretty much forced their way into a treaty in the same way as the US did, as at the time these âvisitingâ countries had a significant military and technological advantage. These treaties opened up more ports, including in Edo itself.
Tokugawa Iemochi became the 14th Shogun in 1858 and was the grandson of the 11th Shogun Ienari (as previous Shogun Iesada had no children). His choice as heir was heavily contested by other factions of the Tokugawa family and government officials, particularly from the Mito and Satsuma domains. There was also the ever-growing movement by Imperial Loyalists, who were now even more angry at the opening of Japan by the âweakâ Shogunate (though, they really had no choice). Thus began the Ansei Purge, ordered by Ii Naosuke (the new大č âgreat elderâ) on behalf of the Shogun. This allowed the arrest or removal of anyone in government who opposed the Shogun due to imperialist views, or the choice of Iemochi as successor. Over 100 prominent figures were removed from office or position, all of whom were either imprisoned, exiled, or tortured and executed. This was a large push into open violence in Japan as political groups and clans sought revenge.
(I have a very poorly timed trip away for the next few days and likely wont have reception, so I may miss posting for the climatic ending! 
)
14 Likes
108151 (community total) + 24 (my reviews) = 108175
10 Likes
108175 (community total) + 59 (my reviews) = 108234
10 Likes
108,234 (community total) + 63 (my reviews) = 108,297
10 Likes
108 297 (community total) + 3 (my reviews) = 108 300
10 Likes
108 300 (community total) + 35 (my reviews) = 108 335
8 Likes
108 335 (community total) + 440 (My reviews since March 24) = 108 775
10 Likes
108 775 + 100 = 108875
8 Likes
108 875 (community total) + 49 (my reviews) = 108 924
9 Likes
108924 (community total) + 0 = 108924
(no more reviews to add for today, just trying to squash in the next few busy years)
About 298 years in: ~1861
In 1860, the assassination of Ii Naosuke at Edo castle occurred, known as the Sakuradamon Incident. Naosuke had been heavily criticized for signing the Harris treaty with the US, and then similar treaties with 4 other countries in the same year. He then further angered everyone from both political sides by ordering the Ansei purge, where among the survivors that lost their positions, where some influential figures, which stirred more hate against the Shogunate. During part of a festival proceedings, all Daimyo around Edo were making their way into the castle for meetings. Ii Naosuke was inside his palanquin with 60 Samurai guards around him, just about to enter the Sakurada gate, when the attack occurred. A small band of ronin from the Mito domain ambushed the entourage, distracting the guards, then a single Samurai armed with a revolver copied from one of Matthew Perryâs gifts, shot into the palanquin. He pulled the injured Naosuke out and decapitated him. The assassin then immediately committed seppuku. This helped tip the scales further into violence over the next few years from pro-imperialists and pro-shogun forces pushing their political goals by any means necessary.
15 Likes
108924 (community total) + 26 (my reviews) = 108950
10 Likes