On March 31, 1854, the United States and Japan signed the Convention of Kanagawa. The treaty opened two Japanese ports to American ships for supplies and limited trade. It ended Japan’s long policy of near-isolation toward most Western countries. Commodore Matthew Perry’s earlier visits and naval presence helped push Japan toward the agreement. The treaty paved the way for more extensive trade and diplomatic relations. It also set in motion internal changes in Japan that eventually led to the Meiji Restoration and rapid modernization.
