Convention of Kanagawa

The Convention of Kanagawa, also known as the Kanagawa Treaty (神奈川条約, Kanagawa Jōyaku) or the Japan–US Treaty of Peace and Amity (日米和親条約, Nichibei Washin Jōyaku), was a treaty signed between the United States and the Tokugawa Shogunate on March 31, 1854. Signed under threat of force, it effectively meant the end of Japan's 220-year-old policy of national seclusion (sakoku) by opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American vessels. It also ensured the safety of American castaways and established the position of an American consul in Japan. The treaty precipitated the signing of similar treaties establishing diplomatic relations with other Western powers.

Infobox

Signed

31 March 1854 (1854-03-31)

Location

Yokohama, Japan

Sealed

March 31, 1854

Effective

September 30, 1855

Condition

Ratification by US Congress, signing by President Franklin Pierce and signing by Emperor Kōmei

Signatories

Japan United States

Depositary

Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan)

Languages

English Japanese

Tables

· Treaty of Peace and Amity (1854)

§ I

Article

§ I

Summary

Mutual peace between the United States and the Empire of Japan

§ II

Article

§ II

Summary

Opening of the ports of Shimoda & Hakodate

§ III

Article

§ III

Summary

Assistance to be provided to shipwrecked American sailors

§ IV

Article

§ IV

Summary

Shipwrecked sailors not to be imprisoned or mistreated

§ V

Article

§ V

Summary

Freedom of movement for temporary foreign residents in treaty ports (with limitations)

§ VI

Article

§ VI

Summary

Trade transactions to be permitted

§ VII

Article

§ VII

Summary

Currency exchange to facilitate any trade transactions to be allowed

§ VIII

Article

§ VIII

Summary

Provisioning of American ships to be a Japanese government monopoly

§ IX

Article

§ IX

Summary

Japan to give the United States any favourable advantages which might be negotiated by Japan with any other foreign government in the future

§ X

Article

§ X

Summary

Forbidding the United States from using any other ports aside from Shimoda and Hakodate

§ XI

Article

§ XI

Summary

Opening of an American consulate at Shimoda

§ XII

Article

§ XII

Summary

Treaty to be ratified within 18 months of signing

Article	Summary
§ I	Mutual peace between the United States and the Empire of Japan
§ II	Opening of the ports of Shimoda & Hakodate
§ III	Assistance to be provided to shipwrecked American sailors
§ IV	Shipwrecked sailors not to be imprisoned or mistreated
§ V	Freedom of movement for temporary foreign residents in treaty ports (with limitations)
§ VI	Trade transactions to be permitted
§ VII	Currency exchange to facilitate any trade transactions to be allowed
§ VIII	Provisioning of American ships to be a Japanese government monopoly
§ IX	Japan to give the United States any favourable advantages which might be negotiated by Japan with any other foreign government in the future
§ X	Forbidding the United States from using any other ports aside from Shimoda and Hakodate
§ XI	Opening of an American consulate at Shimoda
§ XII	Treaty to be ratified within 18 months of signing

References

Bill of Rights Institute
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/essays/commodore-perry-and-the-opening-of-japan
Gale Primary Sources, Nineteenth Century Collections Online
https://link.gale.com/apps/collection/4ZNU/NCCO?u=lom_waynesu&sid=bookmark-NCCO
Perry
J. Green, "Samurai, Daimyo, Matthew Perry, and Nationalism: Crash Course World History #34. CrashCourse, https://www.you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nosq94oCl_M
P. Duus, Modern Japan, ch. 4
A. T. Embree & C. Gluck, Asia in Western and World History: A guide for teaching
Beasley, pp. 74–77
Beasley, p. 78
"Letters from U.S. President Millard Fillmore and U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry to the Emperor of Japan (1852–1853)"
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/japan/fillmore_perry_letters.pdf
Hall, p. 207.
Beasley, p. 88.
Beasley, p. 89.
Kitahara, M. (1986), pp. 53–65
Hall, p. 211.
Beasley, pp. 90–95.
Kitahara (1986), pp. 53–65.
The Whites are Enemies of Heaven: Climate Caucasianism and Asian Ecological Protection
"From Washington; The Japanese Treaty-Its Advantages and Disadvantages-The President and Col. Rinney, &c.," New York Tim
https://www.nytimes.com/1855/10/18/archives/from-washingtin-the-japanese-treatyits-advantages-and.html
Cullen, pp. 173–185.
Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Japan) exhibit.
Beasley, pp. 96–97
Edstrom p. 101.
Hall, pp. 211–213.
Kitahara (1983), pp. 103–110.