{"id":26361,"date":"2020-04-24T11:54:53","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T10:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=26361"},"modified":"2022-02-10T15:59:41","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T15:59:41","slug":"sakoku-220-years-of-self-isolation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/24\/sakoku-220-years-of-self-isolation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sakoku: 220 years of self isolation"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F26361\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"InsideJapan Tours - Part one intro: the (other) period of isolation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8-UMfjuzefY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">To prevent the spread of Coronavirus, around 20% of the global population are in lockdown with even more social-distancing from others<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The last time the world saw an isolation of this scale it was very different in nature: welcome to 17th century Japan, where 30 million people entered the 220 year period known as Sakoku.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Not all is as meets the eye though. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Why isolate?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tokugawa Shogun took a firm grip on the country after the long period of Sengoku<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0or<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2018<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Warring States\u2019 &#8211; essentially unrest and civil war which lasted from 1467 to 1615.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> The Shogun believed that Christianity<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">which had been introduced\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">largely\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">by the Portuguese<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">)<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and other foreign influence<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0w<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ere<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0a threat to\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the newfound <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">stability<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> of the country<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The policy of seclusion or &#8216;Sakoku&#8217;\u00a0 (\u9396\u56fd\u00a0lit. Chained\/locked country)\u00a0\u00a0was enacted by the Tokugawa Shogun<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Iemitsu<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0from 1633<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and meant that\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">most Japanese could<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">n\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">t\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">leave,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0foreigners\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">couldn\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">enter Japan (without the approval of the authorities) under\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> &#8211; the threat and the threat of execution. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26364\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26364\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26364 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/dejima.jpg\" alt=\"Dejima \" width=\"250\" height=\"206\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26364\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Dejima depicted in woodblock c.1790 Toshimaya Bunjiemo<\/strong>n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>Enter the Dutch\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Still<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0with various foreign\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">powers offering temptations of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">estern science, warfare and wonder, Japan wasn\u2019t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0quite as closed as \u2018closed\u2019 would suggest.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in 1634, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">just off the coast of the southern port city of Nagasaki, a 220mx175m island called <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dejima<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(lit.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Exit Island<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">) was created for foreign traders. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">After <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Portuguese had brought in Christianity along with their firearms,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">favour<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0turned to the Dutch<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0who brought with them, nothing but goods to trade. They had also shown their commitment to the Shogun through the bombarding of Hara Castle to help quell the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shimabara<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0Christian uprising.\u00a0 Along with the Chinese,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dutch\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">were the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">only ships<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0allowed into\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dejima<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and Japan from 1641 onwards<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Only a small number of Japanese had access to the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dejima<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, there were the 25 <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">families<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> who funded its creation, interpreters and later<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> scholars. Officially, <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dejima<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> was the only place in Japan\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">open to the world<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0foreign<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0ideas<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2026. Again, in reality, this was not strictly true<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> there was (albeit limited) trade with Korea via Tsushima, the Ryukyu Kingdom <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">with\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the Ainu people\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of what is now known as Hokkaido. However,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dejima<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> remained the only place in Japan open to the <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">estern world.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Whilst on the tiny island and in between ships, t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he Dutch\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kept themselves amused. They introduced Japan to the likes of billiards and badminton, beer was brewed and products like cabbage, tomatoes and chocolate appeared for the first time. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Foreigners didn&#8217;t always stay on the island either. In true Shogun style, t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">he Dutch\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">were expected to make the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">annual\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">1,200-kilometer<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">trek from\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dejima<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to pay their respects at the capital<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Edo. They took<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018exotic\u2019\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">gifts introducing treasures from around the world<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">as well as\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the likes of globes, telescopes,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">medical teachings,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0spectacles and more,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">increasing the exposure to foreign goods<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and ideas<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26367\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26367\" style=\"width: 350px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26367\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakiya-224x300.jpg\" alt=\"Nagasaki Ya Edo \" width=\"350\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakiya-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakiya-422x564.jpg 422w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakiya-390x521.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakiya.jpg 448w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26367\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Nagasaki-ya, Edo depicted in woodblock c.1802 Katsushika Hokusai<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The audience with the Shogun was an\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">honour<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and whilst in Edo, the Dutch were housed at<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0\u2018Nagasaki-<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ya<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">building (<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">as documented by\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ukiyo<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">-e legend Katsushika Hokusai circa 1802) much to the amusement of the locals<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/newsletter\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-32147\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2400\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-300x60.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-1024x205.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-768x154.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-564x113.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-1536x307.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-2048x410.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-1200x240.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-900x180.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-720x144.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-1440x288.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-390x78.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-780x156.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Newsletter_SignUp_Banner-2-510x102.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>The end of Sakoku<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The eighth\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shogun,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Tokugawa\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yoshimume<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(1684-1751)\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">took more of a liberal approach to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sakoku<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0in the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">early 18<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0century and encouraged\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rangaku<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">or \u2018Dutch learning\u2019 and the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0wider<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0study\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">estern medicine, science, military studies<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0astronomy<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and more<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The \u2018<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Rangaku<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019 movement argued that the<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">di<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ssemination of W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">estern ideas and knowledge would strengthen Japan<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, not weaken it<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The movement ultimately led to the removal of the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sakoku<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0policy and the opening<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&#8211;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">up <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">of Japan<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_26365\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26365\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-26365\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay.jpg\" alt=\"Nagasaki Bay\" width=\"500\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-300x234.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-768x599.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-564x440.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-900x702.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-720x562.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-390x304.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-780x609.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/nagasakibay-510x398.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-26365\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Photograph of Dejima Island c.1870<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sakoku<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">effectively\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">came to a<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> juddering halt<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0as Commodore Perry\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2018B<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">lack\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">S<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hips<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0(<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">kurofune<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">),<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0representing the might of the United States<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">sailed\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">into\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yokohama Bay<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">in 1<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">853<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">demanding that Japan\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">open<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0trade\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">to<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">the West.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This marked a new era and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the restoration of the Emperor,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0the\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Meji<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0era\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">(1868-1912)\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">and\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">moderni<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">s<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ation<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0of Japan<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Edo period is one of the most exciting periods of Japan\u2019s rich history and possibly one of the most \u2018Japanese\u2019 periods in terms of its culture, with its images of samurai and the shogun. However, the Dutch, the Portuguese before them, the Chinese and other nations all had influence over <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">t<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">his &#8216;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">seclud<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ed&#8217; nation.\u00a0<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">lthough not quite as isolated as you might think, the period of seclusion has lent itself positively to Japan and the unique culture that has evolved into what we know and love today.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Japanese history distilled (video)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8230;.and for those of you that want to know a bit more about the history of Japan, take a look at this amusing animated film from Bill Wurtz which gives an overview of the entire history of the country in just 9 minutes.\u00a0 <strong>Click on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Mh5LY4Mz15o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the link<\/a>, it&#8217;s very funny but b<\/strong><b>e warned that some of the language is a bit racy.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Mh5LY4Mz15o\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-26383 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-1024x540.png\" alt=\"History of Japan\" width=\"1024\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-1024x540.png 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-768x405.png 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-564x298.png 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-1200x633.png 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-900x475.png 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-720x380.png 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-390x206.png 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-780x411.png 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz-510x269.png 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/bill-wurtz.png 1217w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! To prevent the spread of Coronavirus, around 20% of the global population are in lockdown with even more social-distancing from others. The last time the world saw an isolation of this scale it was very different in nature: welcome to 17th century Japan, where 30 million people [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2367],"tags":[1623,1910,3084,4459,4462,4465,4471],"class_list":["post-26361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-japanese-culture-and-history","tag-history","tag-nagasaki","tag-dejima","tag-sakoku","tag-isolation","tag-dutch","tag-edo-period"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26361","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26361"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32183,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26361\/revisions\/32183"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}