Sakoku

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Sakoku (鎖国, "closed country") was the isolationist foreign policy of the Edo period Japan, under which severe restrictions were placed on the entry of foreigners and the exit of Japanese nationals. This policy was enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate and lasted from 1633 to 1853, a period often referred to as the Edo period.

History

The Sakoku policy was implemented by the Tokugawa shogunate under the rule of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shōgun of the Tokugawa dynasty. The policy was a response to the perceived threat posed by the increasing influence of European powers and the spread of Christianity in Japan. The shogunate issued a series of edicts and policies that restricted trade and interaction with foreign nations, effectively isolating Japan from the rest of the world.

Key Policies

The Sakoku policy included several key components:

• The prohibition of Japanese nationals from leaving the country.
• The restriction of foreign trade to specific ports, primarily Nagasaki.
• The limitation of foreign influence, particularly from European nations, by allowing only the Dutch East India Company and Chinese merchants to trade with Japan under strict regulations.
• The suppression of Christianity and the persecution of Japanese Christians.

Impact on Japan

The Sakoku policy had significant impacts on Japan:

• It allowed the Tokugawa shogunate to maintain control and stability within the country by minimizing foreign influence.
• It led to the development of a unique Japanese culture, relatively uninfluenced by external forces.
• It contributed to economic stability and growth within Japan, as internal trade and agriculture flourished.
• It delayed Japan's exposure to technological and scientific advancements occurring in the rest of the world.

End of Sakoku

The Sakoku policy came to an end in 1853 when Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy arrived in Japan with a fleet of ships, demanding the opening of Japanese ports to American trade. This event, known as the Perry Expedition, led to the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, which marked the beginning of Japan's gradual opening to the outside world and the end of its isolationist policies.

Related Pages

• Edo period
• Tokugawa shogunate
• Nagasaki
• Christianity in Japan
• Perry Expedition
• Convention of Kanagawa