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Did you know that a very distinctive aspect of Japanese history involved its doors remaining closed to the rest of the world for over 200 years? "

"Welcome to the era known as Sakoku, or 'closed country', which lasted from 1641 to 1853. Japan, under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate, implemented an isolationist foreign policy. Its purpose? To hinder the spread of foreign religions, mainly Christianity, and to consolidate the shogunate's power. International trade became heavily regulated. Only the Dutch, the Chinese, and for a short while, the English, had limited access to the Japanese market - with Nagasaki acting as the single port of entry. Japanese people were prohibited from leaving the island nation, and if they did, they risked facing execution upon their return. The consequences were manifold and far-reaching. This policy insulated Japan from the sociopolitical changes and revolutions transforming Europe. On the other hand, it preserved traditional Japanese society and allowed the culture to bloom in its own unique manner. Ultimately, it took the forceful arrival of American Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853 to end Sakoku and bring Japan into the international sphere.

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