Final answer:
The statement that Japan opened its borders during the Tokugawa period is false; this era was marked by Japan's policy of isolation, known as sakoku, with controlled contact at specific ports. It wasn't until the arrival of Commodore Perry that Japan began to end its isolationist policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tokugawa period (1600-1868), also known as the Edo period, is marked by a policy of national seclusion or isolation known as sakoku. While the period began after Tokugawa Ieyasu's victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, it was characterized by economic growth, social and cultural changes within Japan.
However, it is false that Japan opened its borders to the outside world during this time; in fact, the Tokugawa shogunate established policies to eliminate foreign influence and restrict contact with foreign countries, including expelling missionaries, prohibiting Japanese from building large ships capable of ocean navigation, and banning most foreign trade, with some exceptions at specific ports like Nagasaki.
In 1853, near the end of the Tokugawa period, pressure from abroad, specifically an encounter with American Commodore Matthew Perry, marked the beginning of the end for Japan's isolationist policies. This eventually led to the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and the opening of Japan to international trade and relations. The correct answer to the question is B) False, as the Tokugawa period was primarily one of isolation, not openness to the international community.