East of China are situated the beautiful island of Japan. Today，Japan is a modern country in every way. Yet for more two hundred years，during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries，the Japanese people were entirely(完全地) cut off from the rest of the world. The Japanese leaders，who ruled the country with an iron hand，were afraid that certain European countries wished to control and colonize(使成为殖民地) Japan. They were also afraid that foreigners might help in starting a revolution against the strong government rule. Therefore，foreigners were not permitted to visit Japan，and the Japanese were not allowed to visit any foreign country. Any Japanese person who tried to leave Japan was thrown into prison or was killed. It was even against the law to build a ship large enough to sail from Japan to any foreign land.

在中国的东面坐落着一个美丽的岛国-日本。当今的日本从任何一个方面来看都是一个现代化的国家。然而，在十七、十八和十九世纪中的二百多年里，日本人民完全与世隔绝。当时铁腕统治这个国家的日本统治者们担忧某些西方国家想控制日本并想使日本成为殖民地。他们还担心那些外国人或许会帮助开展一场反对政府强权统治的革命。因此，外国人不允许来日本，日本人也不允许去外国，任何一位企图离开日本的人都会被投入监狱或被杀头。更有甚者，连建造一艘能从日本驶往国外的船只都属违法。