<sod>  [[Image:PerryBustShimoda.jpg|thumb|right|Bust of Matthew Perry in Shimoda]]
On [[March 31]], [[1854]], the '''Convention of Kanagawa''' ([[Japanese language|Japanese]]: 神奈川条約, Kanagawa Jōyaku, or 日米和親条約, Nichibei Washin Jōyaku) was used by Commodore [[Matthew Perry (naval officer)|Matthew Perry]] of the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] to force the opening of the [[Japan]]ese ports of [[Shimoda]] and [[Hakodate]] to [[United States|American]] trade and ended Japan's 200 year policy of seclusion ([[Sakoku]]). It also guaranteed safety of shipwrecked American whalers and established a permanent American consul.  Though he refused to deal with Japanese officials and demanded to speak with the Japanese Head of State, Perry did not realize that he had only spoken with representatives of the [[Tokugawa_shogunate|Tokugawa]] [[Shogun]] and not the [[Emperor]].  However, the [[Shogun]] was the de-facto ruler of Japan at that time.  For the Emperor to interact in any way with foreigners was out of the question.  
 
After the '''Treaty of Kanagawa''' was concluded, similar treaties were negotiated by the [[Russians]] and the [[British Empire|British]].
 
This treaty was followed by the 1858 "unequal" [[U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce]] allowing the establishment of foreign concessions, extra-territoriality for foreigners, and minimal import taxes for foreign goods.
 
 ==See also==
 *[[Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty]]
 *[[History of Japan]]
 
 ==External links==
* [http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob58.html The Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between the United States and Japan, 1858 (The Harris Treaty)] (full text)
 
 [[Category:Japan history of foreign relations]]
 [[Category:United States treaties]]
 <eod> <sod> [[Image:PerryBustShimoda.jpg|thumb|right|Bust of Matthew Perry in Shimoda]]
On [[March 31]], [[1854]], the {{Nihongo|'''Convention of Kanagawa'''|日米和親条約|Nichibei Washin Jōyaku}} or {{Nihongo|'''Kanagawa Treaty'''|神奈川条約|Kanagawa Jōyaku}} was concluded between [[Matthew Perry (naval officer)|Commodore Matthew Perry]] of the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] and [[Japan]]. The treaty forced open the [[Japan]]ese 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 "unequal" [[United States-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce]] of [[1858]], 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 Empire|British]].
 
 ==See also==
*[[United States-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce]]
 *[[Anglo-Japanese Friendship Treaty]]
 *[[History of Japan]]
 
 ==External links==
* [http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/jobrien/reference/ob25.html  The Convention of Kanagawa, 1854 (full text)]
 
 [[Category:Japan history of foreign relations]]
 [[Category:United States treaties]]
 <eod>