Opening the country - Kaikokuron

Japanese: 開国論 - かいこくろん

At the end of the Edo period, this opinion argued that the isolationist order should be abolished and diplomatic relations should be established with foreign countries. Honda Toshiaki and Motoori Norinaga also agreed with this idea early on, but it became especially realistic after the arrival of Perry. When the shogunate consulted with the feudal lords on the pros and cons of opening up the country, Ii Naosuke, the lord of Hikone, and others advocated the benefits of trade. In addition, the lords of Fukuoka, Kakegawa, Sakura, Oshi, and Tsuyama expressed their support for opening up the country, although their meanings differed. When the trade treaty was concluded, four domains, including Satsuma, were proactive in trade, and 16 other domains expressed their support for trade. Among the samurai class, Sakuma Shozan, Yokoi Shonan, and others advocated the benefits of trade and argued that expelling foreigners was not possible. Many shogunate officials, such as Egawa Tarozaemon and Katsu Kaishu, also held this opinion, but the argument for opening up the country was based on the idea of territorial expansion and overseas expansion.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

江戸時代末期，鎖国令を撤廃し外国と国交を開くべきであると主張した意見。早くから本多利明，本居宣長にもそれは認められたが，特に現実性をもったのはペリー来航以後である。幕府が諸大名に開国の是非を諮問した際，彦根藩主井伊直弼らは，通商交易による利益を説いた。このほか，福岡，掛川，佐倉，忍，津山の各藩主らは，それぞれ意味は異なるが開国に賛意を表わした。次いで通商条約締結の際には，薩摩藩ら4藩は通商に積極的で，このほか 16藩が通商に賛意を表わした。藩士層では，佐久間象山，横井小楠らが貿易による利益を唱え，攘夷の不可を説いた。江川太郎左衛門，勝海舟ら幕臣にもこの意見が多かったが，開国論の根底には領土拡張，海外進出の発想があった。

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