Silver and guns
In the 16th century Japan was a treasure for trade in silver. It is estimated that Japan produced 200,000 kilos of silver each year. That was one-third of all the silver production in the world. By the beginning of the 17th century it is said that one-fifth of the world's silver was from a single mine in Iwamiginzan. It was one of the greatest mines in the world from the latter half of the 16th century to the beginning of the 17th century.
Guns were introduced to Japan around 1543 by the Portuguese traders that came to Tanegashima. It did not take the crafty Japanese long to reverse engineer these weapons and start casting replicas. They soon led the world in gun production. They made more guns than the Spanish and English combined! Imagine that...Samurai warriors using flintlocks and cannons!
Doesn't sit easy with the sword guys or Karateka but it's true... 
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"In all countries where personal freedom is valued, however much each individual may rely on legal redress, the right of each to carry arms - and these the best and the sharpest - for his own protection in case of extremity, is a right of nature indelible and irrepressible, and the more it is sought to be repressed the more it will recur."
James Paterson
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