History of Yokohama, Yamate just before 1923 Earthquake

April 12, 2013
Yokohama became a port city due to the opening of Japan to the world.
Commodore Perry with his fleet forced the Japanese government in 1850's to sign
the treaty to open the door to the world, or to the Americans.
Before this, the Japanese government under Tokugawa shogunate had a very small
section of Nagasaki opened to non-Japanese, Dutch. Tokugawa government controlled the trade and any information coming into Japan. Mr. Tachibana, a journalist, mentioned in NHK interview that the Japanese society is still same as the Tokugawa days when it comes to allow a new information coming into Japan.
Do you agree or not to this statement?
gto