ALTHOUGH ON THE face of it, the relationship between the British and Japanese governments had become much more solid, it was far from sweetness and light. The atmosphere quickly started to sour again when unwanted extremists who had gathered around the Emperor were creating a serious threat to safety. In June 1869, Parkes told Hammond, ‘After the labour of many years it is sorely trying to hear at this date such sentiments as these men appear to be giving expression to. The old cry of … “expulsion of the barbarians” – has been revived by them.’ One seized the bridle of Parkes’ horse on the Tōkaidō and others flashed swords at Westerners and forced them to dismount. There were no fatalities, but Parkes was upset by the relaxed attitude the government was taking towards them; indeed there seemed to be many officials who sympathised with them.

The feeling that the Emperor's regime was actually hostile to the West was reinforced by a bitter dispute that arose over Christianity in the country. The religion had been banned since a brutal campaign of eradication which had seen thousands of Japanese Christians tortured and killed between 1614 and 1650. In spite of this, substantial numbers of ‘hidden Christians’ had maintained their faith particularly in western Kyushu. The town of Urakami, near Nagasaki, had a population of around 4,000, who were all Christian. These Christians were discovered by French missionaries who encouraged them to emerge from hiding, in spite of the fact that being a believer was still punishable by death.

These actions were viewed by the Emperor's government as a challenge to its authority and in April 1868, signs were erected stating that this evil sect was ‘strictly prohibited. Anyone arousing suspicion should be reported to the village office. A reward will be paid.’ Parkes took the news calmly, telling Hammond that the edict against Christianity was ‘not a favourable sign’, but he would ‘endeavor while at Osaka’ (when presenting his credentials) to see if the tone of this paper could not be corrected. He added, ‘They have no right to speak of Christianity as “an evil sect”. It is a symptom of the old leaven, which of course can only be gradually removed.’