It received the same effect but in a different manner.  Closed Japan (146-thousand sq.mi.) and the Roman Empire (1.7-million sq. mi.) are significantly different in size, culture, and government.  Those living under the Japanese system suffered significantly for a protracted period whereas those under the Roman yoke had both local and occasional imperial reprieve.  The seed that were planted did grow during a time of great repression; any denial flies in the face of fact.