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History glossary

the Treaty of Kanagawa

the 1854 agreement that opened limited Japanese ports to American vessels.

Category
Treaty
Region
Japan and United States
Date range
1854

What it means

The Treaty, or Convention, of Kanagawa was the 1854 agreement between the Tokugawa shogunate and the United States after Perry's return. It opened Shimoda and Hakodate to American vessels, provided for shipwrecked sailors and began formal diplomatic contact.

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