This interesting three part PBS documentary (consolidated into one long video here) explains aspects of feudal Japan from the 1500’s to the 1800’s.  It describes specifics of its Samurai culture including how the country became consolidated over that time, and it also describes documented encounters with Western explorers starting with the Portuguese in 1543, the Dutch in 1609, and the Americans in 1854, with all them being amazed by Japan’s uniform order of society and advanced culture.