 The growth that Japan experienced while operating under "sakoku" policy was largely possible because of castle towns such as Kanazawa.They facilitated growth in a way that did not require foreign influence, thus contributing to the success and stability of Japan at the time.The vast wealth of the Maeda was channeled into arts and crafts, rather than military pursuits, and Kanazawa became the centre of the "Million-koku Culture", which helped ease suspicions held by the shogunate over the domain's wealth and the status of its "daimyō" as an "Outer Lord" or "Tozama daimyō".