Historical Events Today: 1854 – Treaty of Kanagawa: Commodore Perry forces Japan to opens ports to US.

On March 31, 1854, the Convention of Kanagawa (“Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Friendship”) or Kanagawa Treaty was concluded between Commodore Matthew C. Perry of the U.S. Navy and the Tokugawa shogunate.
The treaty opened the Japanese ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to United States trade and guaranteed the safety of shipwrecked U.S. sailors; however, the treaty did not create a basis for establishing a permanent residence in these locations. The treaty did establish a foundation for the Americans to maintain a permanent consul in Shimoda. The arrival of the fleet would trigger the end of 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. Perry concluded the treaty with representatives of the Shogun, led by plenipotentiary Hayashi Akira and the text was reluctantly endorsed subsequently by Emperor Komei. The Treaty was ratified on 21 February 1855.
Source: Wikipedia