Convention of Kanagawa
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On March 31, 1854, the Convention of Kanagawa (日米和親条約 Nichibei Washin Jōyaku?) or Kanagawa Treaty (神奈川条約 Kanagawa Jōyaku?) was concluded between Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy and Japan. The treaty opened the Japanese ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to United States trade, guaranteed the safety of shipwrecked U.S. sailors and established a permanent consul. This would effectively end Japan's 200 year policy of seclusion (Sakoku).
Perry initially refused to deal with Japanese officials and demanded to speak with the Japanese Head of State. At the time, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyoshi was the de-facto ruler of Japan; for the Emperor to interact in any way with foreigners was out of the question. In the end Perry concluded the treaty with representatives of the Shogun and not the Emperor.
The Kanagawa treaty was followed by the United States-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce of 1858, another of the Unequal Treaties, which allowed the establishment of foreign concessions, extra-territoriality for foreigners, and minimal import taxes for foreign goods.
Similar treaties were subsequently negotiated by the Russians, the French, and the British.
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