Spain.

Spain started their incursion into Asia in order to establish trading posts to commercialize the silver brought from the colonies in the New World (Mexico and Peru), in exchange for porcelain and lacquer as well as spices. On the other hand, Spanish missionaries were also determined to convert to Christianity the people from Asia. The outcome of the introduction of huge amounts of silver into the economy in Asia, in particular in China, affected profoundly the economy. The introduction of the Manila Galleon trade magnified this effect. Ming China was transformed into a dependency on the export of luxury goods for silver, and that dependence was the downfall of the Ming dynasty, which was one of the most powerful governments of the region.

Japan.

Japanese people were less impressive than Chinese and the rest of Asia, but were also very curious and willing to learn. After missionaries started arriving to Japan, their influence was considered disruptive and a limited accessibility was allowed. Europeans seemed dirty to the Japanese, which were used to daily bathing as a purification ritual. The main ports of trade were located in Nagasaki, Osaka and Edo. Japan was in a process of recent reunification and reestablishing order in social, political, and international relations. After observing the colonization of the Philippines by the Spanish, the Japanese political leaders were suspicious of the missionaries, regulating the missionary activity (page 247). Japanese leaders then proceed to prohibit trade with Western nations, reaffirming Japan's relations with China.
Impact of Spanish trade on Nagasaki.

Nagasaki as a commercial port in Japan suffered the same effect as Asia with the incursion of Europeans, especially Spanish. The natural curiosity of the Japanese people opened the doors to Europeans (Spanish) which eventually will be restricted due to the extremely differences between both cultures and the examples of the colonization effect in other countries (Philippines). Japanese leaders saw the incursion of Spanish trade, or western trade in general, as a threat to their lifestyle and culture; therefore they established a prohibition in order to reorganize their country and their culture without external influence (page 249). This isolation of Japan helped make their traditions and culture stronger and reaffirmed in their people (page 253). This introspective approach has helped Japan not only throughout history, but in current times to maintain open door policies with western cultures preserving the essence of their own culture and their values. Even during migrations (Isei and Nisei in USA), their values and traditions are preserved, and we can appreciate and value the duality of their people, modern and sophisticated but traditional and rooted into their system of values.

Cooper, Michael. "Shipwrecked in Japan, 1609." History Today 25, no. 12, December 1975: 834.

Due to accidental circumstances, Vivero Velasco, was able to provide western society of a detailed account of the society in Japan and their ruling. Prior to his accidental visit, the information about Japan political and social order, was through the letter than Jesuits missionaries were able to send. Throughout audiences and meetings with the rulers of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Velasco was able to provide valuable information in regards of the social code and political ruling. Velasco represented the image of the western society, which was virtually unknown to the Japanese ruler. The mercy displayed by Velasco by liberating about 200 Japanese from prison in Manila, helped to shape his fate when arriving accidentally in Japan. Personally, I did not have an exact reason for the isolation that Japan forced upon its population, and therefore the lack of exchange with western society. It seems perfectly reasonable to close its borders to external influence after all the warfare and internal turmoil caused by the influence of other Asian empires. I believe that these years of isolation and internal restructuring of society and its values, has helped Japan preserve their identity and their essence. The absolute opposite approach and cultural shock between western society and Asian cultures acted as a major force. After suffering colonization and restructuring of others, such as the Philippines case, it created distrust and resentment towards western visitors; and history has proven that forcing others societies (Philippines), regardless of the approach and the mingling of their people (mestizo offspring), fueled a nationalist feeling that would impulse a challenge to foreign rule and authority.