The roots of prejudice in Japan. Where it all began

Japan was able to maintain peace for over two centuries having been secluded from the world, but did this seclusion stem from blissful ignorance of the outside world or was it self-preservation? The forceful ending of the sakoku may have initiated a feeling of prejudice towards foreigners; however, it is far from being the start of discrimination in Japan. Prejudice can be found in various forms in any given country, Japan being no exception. Whether it is Japan or any other country, fear of the unknown can always be found often hidden away. The subsequent research will show that this feeling of prejudice which, some individuals in Japan seem to hold, superseded sakoku and its forceful ending and is still visible in today’s modern day Japan revealing that the roots run deep though they are also diverse and wide spread. Analyzing these roots in regards to prejudice in Japan reveals the range and extent of its effects. This self-imposed isolation, or sakoku, is thought to have affected numerous areas in Japanese society; among those areas is the education system and foreign language learning, particularly English learning. In view of this, a small survey was made and sent to fifteen university students of Japanese ethnicity, who were asked questions in relation to their English education and its relevance to sakoku. The survey was written in both English and Japanese