What led to Japan's period of isolation, Sakoku?

Japan's period of isolation, Sakoku, was primarily triggered by the Tokugawa shogunate's desire to control foreign influence and maintain stability.

The Sakoku period, also known as the period of national isolation, lasted from 1639 to 1853. It was a time when Japan severely limited its interactions with the outside world, particularly with Western nations. The Tokugawa shogunate, the feudal military government of Japan, initiated this policy to consolidate its power and control the spread of foreign influence, particularly Christianity, which was seen as a threat to the stability of the shogunate and the country.

The shogunate was concerned about the growing influence of European powers in Asia, especially after witnessing the colonisation of other Asian countries. The spread of Christianity, brought by Portuguese and Spanish missionaries, was seen as a precursor to political and military invasion. The shogunate feared that converted Japanese Christians would show allegiance to foreign powers rather than to the Japanese rulers. This fear was not unfounded, as there were instances of Christian daimyos (feudal lords) collaborating with European powers.

The Sakoku policy was not an absolute ban on foreign contact. The Dutch, who were primarily interested in trade and did not actively propagate Christianity, were allowed to maintain a trading post on the artificial island of Dejima in Nagasaki. Similarly, trade with China and Korea continued, albeit under strict regulations. The policy was more about controlling and regulating foreign influence rather than completely eliminating it.

The enforcement of Sakoku was strict. Japanese people were forbidden from leaving the country and those who left were not allowed to return. Foreigners were not allowed to enter Japan, with a few exceptions. The policy was enforced through a series of edicts and laws, known as the Sakoku Edicts, which laid out the rules and punishments for violations.

The Sakoku period ended in 1853 when US Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan and forced the country to open its ports to international trade. This marked the end of Japan's isolation and the beginning of the Meiji Restoration, a period of rapid modernisation and westernisation.