The Tokugawa Dynasty began in 1603 with the establishment of the Tokugawa clan’s ruling; the clan’s reign lasted for 260 years. Under the Tokugawa reign, Japan was detached from foreign influence, and became known as a time of internal peace. During this period, Japan was under a system of feudalism, and with the country being at peace, a form of military was not necessary. Rather, the military consisted of the samurais, who were “a parasitic class and unproductive”(Sunoo 12). Because of the Tokugawa’s failure at governing Japan, the central government was not able to protect its people, nor the feudal lords. In response, feudal lords organized small, private armies for themselves, creating the first formal military establishments.
In 1854,