黒くろ船ふね

noun

black ships; Western ships of the Edo period

Historical term for Western vessels that visited Japan from the 16th to 19th centuries, especially Commodore Perry's fleet in 1853. Often used in discussions of the end of sakoku.

• 1853年ねんにペリー率ひきいる黒くろ船ふねが浦うら賀がに来らい航こうした。

  In 1853, the black ships led by Perry arrived at Uraga.

• 黒くろ船ふねの来らい航こうは日本にほんの開かい国こくを促うながした。

  The arrival of the black ships prompted Japan to open its borders.

noun

foreign disruptor; Western market entrant

Figurative extension: a Western product, company, or person that enters the Japanese market and shakes up the status quo. Often used in business or tech contexts.

• iPhoneは日本にほんの携けい帯たい電でん話わ市し場じょうにおける黒くろ船ふねだった。

  The iPhone was a black ship in the Japanese mobile phone market.

• 外がい資し系けいの新しん規き参さん入にゅうは業ぎょう界かいの黒くろ船ふねと呼よばれた。

  The new foreign entrant was called a black ship of the industry.