![]() ![]() Following the opening of the country, the Meiji government undertook a firm policy of modernization. These European-style buildings were a surprise to the Japanese people at the time. Customhouses were established in these cities. In accordance with the treaties of commerce, the ports of Hakodate, Nagasaki, Yokohama, Hyogo, Osaka and Niigata were opened to international trade. The successive cabinets during the Meiji era were therefore continuously involved in the recovery of Customs duty autonomy. The Japanese economy was seriously affected by this low tariff rate. Amendments accepted in 1866 forced the Japanese government to reduce the duties to a uniform rate of 5 percent ad valorem. They also included provisions governing extraterritoriality and import/export duties. These treaties provided for the opening of four more ports. It was followed by similar treaties with Holland, Russia, the United Kingdom and France. In 1858, the first "Treaty of Amity and Commerce" was signed with the United States. Western countries, which had succeeded in arranging Treaties of Peace and Amity, then demanded that the Shogunate conclude treaties of commerce which had been their original aim. It was followed by a series of similar treaties with other countries. ![]() ![]() This historic treaty opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to the United States in order to supply the U.S. In March 1854, acceding to Commodore Perry's demands backed by threatening arms, the Government of Japan signed a "Treaty of Peace and Amity between the Emperor of Japan and the United States of America." This was the very first step taken by Japan towards joining the international community. It was reported that in those days his four well-built black ships left a deep impression on the Japanese people. Perry, entered Uraga Harbor near Yokohama. East India Fleet, commanded by Commodore Matthew C. The United States was particularly active in this respect. This long period of national isolation inevitably was brought to an end when Western countries started to seek markets in the East. From 1633, when the Tokugawa Shogunate proclaimed the isolation of Japan, until the middle of the 19th century, the Country's external relations and trade had been confined to China and Holland, and the only port open for these purposes was Nagasaki. ![]()
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