Talk:Sakoku

older comments
This article deserves to be strengthened with a discussion of WHY the shogunate persued this policy.
 * Second that. A basic reason I have come accross, but do not have formal references to, is that Tokugawa Ieyasu recognised the foreign interaction could introduce ideas and technology which could lead to rebellion, and so was an effective way of controlling this. Also, it may have been intended to reduce the influence and growth of Christianity, which was being introduced via Spain and Portugal in the 16th centuries. Reference to the Japanese version of this article could help to improve it.
 * This is a Wiki. You can edit the article. Fg2 11:39, Jun 19, 2005 (UTC)
 * He has preferred to discuss possible changes. Such discussion ought not to be discouraged. 216.95.92.119 01:01, 17 December 2005 (UTC)

start of revamp
Ok guys I got somethings rolling on the Sakoku how and why's, however, i left bascially everything else as it was, so that i didn't step on anyone's toes. we can talk about whats good and what isn't here.

but for now we got some sources so that good ;-) Bozu 10:56, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Bozu 08:21, 3 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Thanks for the changing "reasons why" "rationale"

Remember, when it comes to footnotes for a featured article candidate, the more, the better. You can't have too many. The bar for FA acceptance is now a lot higher than it used to be. Cla68 03:53, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Project Assessment
A fine start, but needs expansion and clean-up overall. Also, I think we ought to include a section on historiography, and the opinion emerging today among scholars that Japan was not all that closed, and that, while Japanese could not travel abroad, the relations with other nations, along with trade and influence with those nations through the four gateways were quite strong, vibrant, and important. LordAmeth 12:00, 21 December 2006 (UTC)

Added the "why" of Sakoku, translated from Japanese high-school history textbooks and the Japanese version of this wiki. Some native-English speaker should clean up the text please. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.138.125.168 (talk • contribs) 2:05, 20 April 2007 (UTC).


 * Thanks for your additions. I've cleaned up the text as you requested, and added a bit of what I myself asked for months ago :P LordAmeth 11:04, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Father Forcade
Was Father Forcade left in Japan in 1844 or 1846 or both? See points 1 and 4.


 * 1) In 1844, a French naval expedition under Captain Fornier-Duplan visited Okinawa on April 28, 1844. Trade was denied, but Father Forcade was left behind with a translator.
 * 2) In 1845, whaling ship Manhattan (1843) rescued 22 Japanese shipwrecked sailors. Captain Mercator Cooper was allowed into Edo Bay, where he stayed for four days and met with the Governor of Edo and several high officers representing The Emperor. They were given several presents and allowed to leave unmolested, but told never to return.
 * 3) On July 20th, 1846, Commander James Biddle, sent by the United States Government to open trade, anchored in Tokyo Bay with two ships, including one warship armed with 72 cannons, but his demands for a trade agreement remained unsuccessful.
 * 4) On July 24th, 1846, the French Admiral Cécille arrived in Nagasaki, but failed in his negotiations and was denied landing. He was accompanied by two priests who had learnt the Japanese language in Okinawa: Father Forcade and Father Ko.

— Robert Greer (talk) 19:47, 31 March 2009 (UTC)

Number of ships at Kanagawa
In the article on "Black Ships", it is said there were eight ships : "The following year, at the Convention of Kanagawa, Perry returned with eight ships and was presented by the shogun's officials with the "Treaty of Peace and Amity", establishing formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States. Within five years, Japan had signed similar treaties with other western countries. The Harris Treaty was signed with the United States on July 29, 1858."

This article says seven : "The following year, at the Convention of Kanagawa (March 31, 1854), Perry returned with seven ships and forced the Shogun to sign the "Treaty of Peace and Amity", establishing formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States. The United Kingdom signed the Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty at the end of 1854."

Which is the right figure ? --193.55.147.50 (talk) 15:34, 2 November 2011 (UTC)


 * It was never 7, the answer is either 8 or 9 depending on when exactly you're talking about. See here, but in brief, he arrived in February with 8 and the Supply joined on 19 March to make 9. So at the time of the momentous second landing on 8 March he had 8 but by the time the treaty was actually signed it was 9... - Hargrimm | Θ 08:50, 9 March 2021 (UTC)

Whoever removed my edit is a no fun buzzkill
We can totally say that sakoku was reinstated in 2019 157.182.253.234 (talk) 00:30, 30 November 2021 (UTC)