465 Huntington Ave
Boston, Massachusetts 02115

More than 400 years ago, Japan forged strong trading partnerships with China and the West. Japan's lacquer and porcelains were among the most sought-after luxuries in the world. Although Japan largely closed itself to the West around 1640, Chinese and Dutch merchants were allowed to trade goods through a network that extended down the Asian coast to Islamic ports, around Africa and then to Europe.

Added by Upcoming Robot on November 7, 2009