Japan’s First Diplomatic Mission Visits Washington

The mission followed years of pressure on the Tokugawa government to expand foreign access to Japan. American shipping across the Pacific needed fuel, provisions, and help for stranded sailors; Commodore Matthew Perry backed those demands with warships in 1853 and 1854. The resulting agreement opened limited ports for supplies. Townsend Harris then negotiated the broader commercial treaty that the Japanese envoys carried to Washington for an exchange of ratifications. [2]

Spectators stood on chairs and sofas in the White House East Room to see Japan’s first diplomatic mission on 17 May 1860. After arriving at the Washington Navy Yard three days earlier with a treaty carried in a wooden case, the three ambassadors had come to meet President James Buchanan. [3]

The Treaty of Amity and Commerce, signed in 1858, opened more Japanese ports to American trade and allowed the two governments to station diplomatic representatives in each other’s country. [4]

Among the treaty’s provisions was a rule that Americans accused of crimes in Japan would face American consular courts and American law. Japanese courts would have no jurisdiction over them. The result was for Japan to surrender part of its authority over foreigners living on Japanese soil. [4]

Related Diplomats

1. Tateishi Onojirō [1]
2. Masaoki Shinmi [5] [6]

Related Reading

• Japan and the United States