Japan (1800–1870)

From the 17th century Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shoguns, while the emperor had mainly symbolic importance; the country was almost closed and trade was limited to a few foreign partners. In 1853 American Commodore Matthew Perry came to Edo Bay with armed ships and demanded that the country open. The Treaty of Kanagawa was made in 1854, and in 1858 trade treaties were signed with the USA and other countries; they contained terms unfavourable to Japan. This discontent weakened the shogun’s power, and in 1867–1868 the young Emperor Mutsuhito — Meiji — took power back. The new government renamed Edo as Tokyo and made it the capital, and introduced a new army, schools and industry; in 1871 the local domains were abolished.