Economic history of Japan

Common card · No. 351902

The economic history of Japan concerns the development of the economy of Japan from ancient times to the present. Early Japanese society was primarily agricultural, although trade with mainland Asia introduced new technologies and cultural influences. Following the rise of the Imperial House and increasing political centralization, Japan developed systems of taxation, administration, and currency influenced by China, including the introduction of the Wadōkaichin coinage during the classical period. During the era of Feudal Japan, improvements in agriculture and commerce contributed to population growth and economic expansion. The economy gradually shifted from barter to greater use of currency, while foreign trade increased following contact with European merchants in the 16th century, particularly the Portuguese. In the mid-17th century, the Tokugawa shogunate adopted the policy of Sakoku, restricting foreign relations and trade for more than two centuries. The collapse of the Tokugawa...

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