Sakoku

Sakoku, or the national seclusion, of Japan by the Tokugawa Iemitsu in the 1630s was one of the most important periods in Japanese history. Many people perceived that Japan became uniquely unique because of the Sakoku. However, during the Sakoku, Japan was not complete sealed off from foreign influences and trades. The national seclusion of Japan is believed by some people that there is only limited trade with the Dutch and Chinese in Nagasaki. According to Oxford Art Online during the Edo period

This foreign policy, commonly known as sakoku or “closed country”, is often seen as a period of isolation for Japan that resulted in a reduction of foreign trade and diplomatic relations. However, even beyond the Dutch at Nagasaki, Japan actually sought to establish trade and diplomatic relations

nation-state that chooses to remain isolated from the world suffers technologically. A prominent example of the detrimental effects of isolationism and the beneficial effects of international trade can be observed through the period and abolition of Sakoku, better known as the isolationist foreign policy of Japan. During isolation, the Japanese were only scarcely aware of the technological advances in Western technology. As such, when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry’s “black ships” arrived, the Japanese

When you think of black ships, what comes to mind? Most people probably think of the “Black Pearl” from Pirates of the Caribbean. I am not here to talk about the “Black Pearl” but a totally different kind of black ship. The black ships I am going to talk about are massive steam powered ships that Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States sailed into Japan in 1853. These ships bought fear into the hearts of the Japanese and many art depictions of this will show that fear. Let’s start with a little

Sakoku was the policy introduced to Japan in medieval times. Sakoku translates to ‘a country in chains’ or ‘the lock up of a country’. This policy proclaimed that no foreigner or Japanese could enter or leave the country, without the threat of death. The Tokugawa Shogunate, under Tokugawa Iemitsu, created this policy as well as an array of other edicts and policies to prevent foreigners and Japanese alike from entering or leaving Japan. These were established and put into action in 1633-1639 and

transition both internally and externally. Before explaining specifically the reason for American presence, it is important to note Japan’s foreign policy under the Edo government (also known as Bakufu). The national seclusion policy referred to as “sakoku" banned all Japanese inhabitants from leaving the country and restricted foreign export and influence vastly. Only the Koreans, Chinese and Dutch East India company were granted trade privileges and this was exclusively through the Nagasaki port.

situated near the mainland, there is still a significant amount of open sea, which divides the two landmasses. Throughout most of Japan's history, it has been shut off from the outside world, neglecting to open its borders to foreigners. The sakoku policy, Sakoku meaning "locked country", was established in 1633 by the Tokugawa Shogunate, it prevented outsiders from entering Japan on a punishment of death. The policy also prevented Japanese from leaving Japan. Nara was established in the late 8th century

2010). This meant that all males 20 years of age and over was required to serve in the army, despite of social class. Originally, this was practiced in other Western nations before making its way to Japan. The Military Conscription challenged the Sakoku Policy, as it rebelled against the feudal system in place during this time. “The Shogun rules firmly and with justice at Edo…” (The Trillion Dollar Enterprise, p70). This quote by a renowned samurai or warrior aristocrat refers to the peaceful environment

Japanese unification started in the late 16th century by Nobunaga Oda and continued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. When Tokugawa Ieyasu took the power the ‘unified Japan’ was just at the beginning, therefore, as the great strategist who was, his first aim was to centralise and increase power of the shogunate in order to facilitate Tokugawa control throughout the country while at the same time eliminate any potential threat. This obsession with order can be seen in any aspect of the Tokugawa shogunate and

where Japan is located relative to where Europe is located, it was hard for Hokusai to share his artistic ideas outside of his home country. In addition to the issue of physical distance, during the early 1800’s Japan was under a foreign policy called sakoku, which allowed no foreigner or Japanese person to enter or leave the country on penalty of death. This