Trade with China needed to be maintained because of the economic ambitions of Shimazu and the Ryukyuan desire for the continuation of the Kingdom of the Ryukyus. The kingdom had the obligation to dispatch emissaries on visits to Edo (Tokyo) on occasions such as the enthronement of a new king of the Ryukyus and the assumption of power of a new Shogun. This was seen as an expression of subordination and courtesy to the Shogunate and Satsuma clan. The journey of these processions were called " Edo nobori" or procession to Edo (Tokyo). The Shogunate and Shimazu clan used these occasions to ostentatiously display their power to rule over another foreign country and were seen by both the Shogunate and Shimazu as a chance to increase their authority.
