Sakoku Policy

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Lore & Background

The term sakoku originates from the manuscript work Sakoku-ron (鎖國論) written by Japanese astronomer and translator Shizuki Tadao in 1801. Shizuki invented the word while translating the works of the 17th-century German traveller Engelbert Kaempfer, namely his book 'the history of Japan', posthumously released in 1727. It is conventionally regarded that the shogunate imposed and enforced the sakoku policy in order to remove the colonial and religious influence of primarily Spain and Portugal, which were perceived as posing a threat to the stability of the shogunate and to peace in the archipelago. The increasing number of Catholic converts in southern Japan (mainly Kyūshū) was a significant element of that which was seen as a threat. The direct trigger which is said to have spurred the imposition of sakoku was the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637–38, an uprising of 40,000 mostly Christian peasants. In the aftermath, the shogunate accused missionaries of instigating the rebellion, expelled them from the country, and strictly banned the religion on penalty of death. The remaining Japanese Christians, mostly in Nagasaki, formed underground communities and came to be called Kakure Kirishitan.

In Their Own Story

Before the Tokugawa, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had previously begun to turn against the European missionaries after the Spanish conquest of the Philippines began, and the gradual progress of the Spanish there led to increasing hostility from the Tokugawa as well. Protestant English and Dutch traders reinforced this perception by accusing the Spanish and Portuguese missionaries of spreading the religion systematically, as part of a claimed policy of culturally dominating and colonizing Asian countries. The Dutch and English were generally seen by the Japanese to be able to separate religion and trade, while their Iberian counterparts were looked upon with much suspicion. The Dutch, who were at war with the Spanish and eager to take over trade from both the Spanish and Portuguese, had no problems reinforcing this view. The Empress Meishō (r. 1629–1643) also had grave doubts when she heard about how the Spanish and Portuguese were invading and colonising in the New World, and thought that Japan would soon become one of the many countries in their possession.

Reader's Guide

Under sakoku, there was extensive trade with China through the port of Nagasaki, in the far west of Japan, with a residential area for the Chinese. The policy stated that the only European influence permitted was the Dutch factory at Dejima in Nagasaki. Western scientific, technical and medical innovations flowed into Japan through Rangaku ('Dutch learning'). Trade with Korea was limited to the Tsushima Domain, today part of Nagasaki Prefecture, and the wakan in Choryang, part of present-day Busan. There were also diplomatic exchanges done through the Joseon Tongsinsa from Korea. Trade with the Ainu people was limited to the Matsumae Domain in Hokkaido, and trade with the Ryūkyū Kingdom took place in Satsuma Domain (present-day Kagoshima Prefecture). Apart from these direct commercial contacts in peripheral provinces, trading countries sent regular missions to the shōgun in Edo and at Osaka Castle. The policy ended after 1853 when the Perry Expedition commanded by Matthew C. Perry forced the opening of Japan to American, and by extension, Western trade through a series of treaties, called the Convention of Kanagawa.

Did You Know?

• The term 'sakoku' was invented by Japanese astronomer Shizuki Tadao in 1801 while translating the works of German traveller Engelbert Kaempfer.
• The direct trigger for the imposition of sakoku was the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637–38, an uprising of 40,000 mostly Christian peasants.
• Under sakoku, the only European influence permitted was the Dutch factory at Dejima in Nagasaki.
• Trade with Korea was limited to the Tsushima Domain and the wakan in Choryang, part of present-day Busan.
• The policy ended after the Perry Expedition in 1853, which forced the opening of Japan through the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854.