Why was the 'opening of Japan to the west' bad for Japan?

Answer 1

Japan was forced to open its ports through uneven treaties by which Japan got much less power in their relationship with the West than the European and American administrations had. To say that it was 'bad' for Japan is an oversimplfication, though. In the long run, it allowed a fast modernization and an vast increase in military technology through contact with the West, as well as many social changes. However, as it was a militarily-enforced relationship created by the brute force of foreign intervention, it also demoralized Japan as its first encounter with the outside world was a defeat.