Tokugawa shogunate restricted international intercourse in Japan since the early seventeenth century. Americas, for eastern commerce, attained a considerable proportion.

Since about 1800, U.S. whaling and clipper ships had passed through Japanese waterways on route to China, and with the rise of steam navigation, the need for stations where ships could be refueled and provisioned became more imperative.

Commodore Perry

Washington instructed Perry to secure from The Japanese government promise of protection for ship-wrecked United States seamen, permission for merchant ships to obtain repaints and fuel, and right to trade. Perry’s gunboats impressed the Shoguns to give a favorable reply.

However, only at the visit of the U.S. Consul- general (Townsend Harris) was a commercial treaty negotiated with the shogunate in 1858. Harris used the object lesson of European aggression in China to convince the Japanese that they would be better off yielding peacefully to American demands.

Harris Treaty

Provided for the opening of several ports to traders, and the establishment of diplomatic intercourse placed limitations on the Japanese tariff and recognized the principle of extra-territoriality. Following the U.S. lead, other Western powers Secured treaties granting them several privileges, and it seemed that the pattern unfolding in China might be duplicated in Japan.

“Japan’s reaction to the Western Impact produced results almost opposite of Contemporary developments in China.”

After recovering from their initial Shock, the Japanese turned to the task of assimilated Western culture and techniques for the purpose of to strengthen their state and win equal recognition among other houses.

The first significant effect of the opening of Japan was that it led to the abolition of the shogunate, making possible a reorganization of the government along modern lines.

The “outer daimyo” – especially the heads of four great domains: Choshu, Satsuma, Hizen, and Tosa had long been awaiting an opportunity to displace the Tokugawa Shoguns family.

The action of the Shogun in yielding to the Western powers provided the opportunity. Before signing the treaties, Shogun had taken the unprecedented step of going to Kyoto to consult the emperor.

The domain lords subsequently demanded that the emperor be restored to his rightful position as rules, denounced the Shogun for his weakness in submitting to the foreigners, and raised the cry that barbarian must be expelled.

The antiforeignism of the great daimyo was broken by direct action on the part of the barbarians. The daimyos were impressed by the nary and technology of the foreigners.

In a Short time, the Key men of the great feudal estates dropped their attitude of uncompromising hostility to the foreigners, becoming more determined than ever to end the outmoded dual system of government.