The Edo bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) repeatedly postponed the opening of the port in Hyogo, citing the fact that it was in the Kinai region (the five capital provinces surrounding the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto) and thus close to Kyoto, where the Emperor lived, and pointing out the region was dangerously unstable due to the strong joi ("expulsion of foreigners") sentiment there.
江戸幕府は天皇の居住する京都に近い畿内は攘夷気分が強く情勢不穏であるとして、兵庫開港を延ばしに延ばしていた。