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Japan For hundreds of years, the island nation of Japan was a remote and isolated land. Generations of feudal rulers kept the country cut off from most other nations and cultures until the 19th century. Although Japanese culture had flourished for thousands of years, the rest of the world knew virtually nothing about Japan and its people until it opened its doors to the West in 1854. Today, Japan has considerably expanded its role in world affairs. During the 20th century, it has changed from a remote, underdeveloped country into a modern nation of great international importance. It is a leading economic power, second only to the United States in its yearly production of goods and services. It is the world’s foremost shipbuilder and a major producer of steel, automobile