Term for Identification: Sakoku

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Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Sakoku (鎖国) is a term used to describe the isolationist foreign policy of Japan under which relations and trade between Japan and other countries were severely limited, nearly all foreigners were barred from entering Japan, and the Japanese people were forbidden from leaving the country. The policy was enacted by the Tokugawa shogunate (the feudal military government) under Tokugawa Iemitsu through a number of edicts and policies from 1633–1639 and remained in effect until 1853 when the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy with his "black ships" demanded the opening of Japan to American and international trade through the Convention of Kanagawa.

The sakoku policy was not completely impenetrable; some limited trade and foreign interactions continued, particularly with the Dutch and Chinese through the port of Nagasaki. However, the overall impact of sakoku was to create a period of relative peace and stability in Japan, which lasted for over two centuries, and to foster a unique culture that developed with minimal foreign influence. The term "sakoku" itself was coined in the 19th century, after the policy had ended, and literally translates to "chained country" or "locked country."

Term for Identification: Sakoku

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