Alien ships of fire: would the Shogun allow Americans into Japan? His decision would shape the future of two world powers.

* OBJECTIVE

Students should understand

* that after centuries of isolation, Japan was opened to the West in 1854, due in large part to the efforts of Matthew C. Perry.

* BACKGROUND

Japan's first Shogun was Tokugawa Ieyasu, who, in 1603, used military might to put himself in power. He made Edo (now Tokyo) the capital of his shogunate, and ensured that power would pass from father to son. In 1638, the strict law of sakoku ("closed country") was established to keep outside influences, such as European missionaries and traders, from weakening the Shogun's hold on power. Sakoku held until 1854. After Perry's successful mission to open Japan to the West, the Japanese people's interest in the world beyond their borders contributed to the crumbling of the Tokugawa shogunate, which fell in 1867.

* CRITICAL THINKING

NOTING DETAILS: Why could some Japanese speak Dutch? (During Japan's isolation, Dutch traders were the only foreigners allowed there.)

MAKING INFERENCES: If something had gone wrong and samurai had killed Perry at the first onshore meeting, what might have happened next? (Possibilities: war between the two countries; a U.S. retreat; Japan remaining closed. Answers must include supporting evidence from the play.)

* ACTIVITY

SEE, SAY, DO: Have students study the illustrations. What details in the first two hint that they were drawn by Japanese artists? What in the third hints that is was drawn by a Westerner? How do the pictures express the artists' feelings about their subjects? Have students draw a picture that expresses their feelings toward a person or event in the play.

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Time, continuity, and change: The role outside forces (specifically Matthew Perry) played in Japan's transition from centuries of isolation to a modern world power.

* Culture: That misunderstandings can arise on both sides when people of different cultures meet.

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Blumberg, Rhoda, Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun (HarperCollins, 2003). Grades 6-12.

* Gaines, Ann Graham, Commodore Perry Opens Japan to Trade in World History (Enslow, 2000). Grades 6-10.

WEB SITES

* The Manjiro Society manjiro.org/manjiro.html

* Perry's Japan Expedition (images) usna.edu/LibExhibits/Special Collections/Perry.html

Introduction

In 1638, Japan's Shogun declared his country off-limits to the entire world. Foreigners daring to approach would suffer "pain of death." So would Japanese who left their country and tried to return. That law was strictly enforced for more than 200 years. Japan became a mystery to the rest of the world. The Japanese knew of nothing beyond their shores.

Meanwhile, the United States became an independent nation. As it spread westward, more U.S. ships plied Pacific waters. Japan's location made it an ideal place to resupply ships and conduct trade. The U.S. and European nations sent several expeditions to Japan, seeking friendly relations. A few Dutch traders were allowed to dock at one port, but everyone else was turned away.

In 1852, U.S. President Millard Fillmore decided to try again. He entrusted the delicate mission to Commodore Matthew C. Perry of the U.S. Navy. Fillmore gave Perry a letter addressed to Japan's Emperor. It extended a hand of friendship--and asked Japan to open its ports to U.S. ships. On July 8, 1853 ...

SCENE 1

Narrator A: In Uraga, Japan, Michiko is steaming a pot of rice over a fire. Suddenly, shouts and screams come from the harbor. She runs to where her family is staring out at the bay.

Michiko: What are you looking at?

Kanji: A horrible sight! Huge black dragons puffing smoke are coming!

Toshiko: A fisherman called them alien ships of fire. Are they really ships?

Michiko: What can the swords of our samurai do against such monsters?

Narrator A: Two U.S. steamships and two sailing ships enter the bay. Smoke blasting from huge smokestacks terrifies the Japanese, who have never seen a steamship. On one ship, Commodore Perry watches as boats full of Japanese soldiers approach.

Commodore Matthew C. Perry: Attention, men! Don't let those soldiers board!

Lieutenant John Contee: Commodore, do you see that man's sign? It says: "Do not anchor. Go away!"

Japanese soldier (shouting from his boat): I speak Dutch!

Anton Portman: I can translate, sir.

Perry: Tell him that I want to speak with the Emperor's highest officials.

SCENE 2

Narrator B: The next day, a Japanese man named Kayama boards Perry's ship. He claims to be Governor but is only the police chief.

Perry: That man is no more Governor than I am Vice President.

Portman: He says we must go to Nagasaki and deal with the Dutch there.

Commander Henry Adams: Japan lets a few Dutch traders do business in Nagasaki, but mistreats them terribly.

Perry: I won't give the President's letter to anyone but Japan's highest officials, and we won't leave this harbor until that happens. Tell them so!

Narrator B: After more days of talks, Kayama brings a letter from higher officials. It invites Perry to go ashore to meet with them.

SCENE 3

Narrator C: The next day, July 14, two Japanese Governors watch Perry and his officers being rowed to shore.

Governor Ido: There must be at least 200 armed barbarians with Perry.

Governor Toda: Well, we have thousands of samurai and troops standing by.

Ido: How far can these talks possibly go? The barbarians don't even understand that the Shogun is the real ruler, not the Emperor.

Narrator C: Meanwhile, Perry is watching the crowded shore.

Perry: As long as we show respect to them, and they to us, we should be fine. But stay alert, men!

Narrator C: As the two sides talk, 10 samurai hide under the floor, ready to leap out and kill Perry if anything goes wrong. But nothing does. Perry gives the President's letter to Japanese officials, who give him one in return.

Portman: This is a receipt for our letter, and assurance that their leader will consider it. It also says that we are to leave Japan at once.

Perry: Say that we will. But we'll be back in a few months--and will expect a reply to the President's letter.

Narrator C: On July 17, Perry's four ships depart for Hong Kong.

SCENE 4

Narrator D: The Shogun must decide what to do about the Americans.

Shogun: Yuko! Didn't one of our people live among barbarians?

Yuko: For 10 years, sir. By law, he should have been killed when he came back. But he knows so much about barbarians, he was spared.

Shogun: Bring him here at once!

Narrator D: Manjiro arrives. He kneels and bows low, head to the floor.

Shogun: How old were you when you were taken by barbarians?

Manjiro: Fourteen, sir. My fishing boat was wrecked, and an American whaler rescued me.

Shogun: My full title means "Great General Who Expels Barbarians"! If they return, why should we not force them out? If we let them walk among us, they may trample us into dust.

Yuko: But look at their ships! Their weapons! Things we never dreamed existed. To remain strong, we must learn more about the outside world.

Shogun: Manjiro! Tell me everything you can about these barbarians.

Manjiro: Americans are friendly, but have strange ways. They don't bow in greeting, yet no one is offended. They sit on chairs instead of tatami. And ...

Narrator D: Manjiro's friendly feelings for Americans become an important factor in the Shogun's considerations.

SCENE 5

Narrator E: On February 13, 1854, Perry returns to Uraga--with nine ships. After nearly three weeks...

Adams: Our talks are going nowhere.

Perry: Tell them we are sailing to Edo, the capital! If we must march into Edo to show that we are serious, we will!

Narrator E: On hearing that news ...

Shogun: Foreigners in Edo? That would shame our people! Yuko, tell my officers to propose meetings at Kanagawa.

Narrator E: Perry accepts, and reaches Kanagawa on March 8. The two sides negotiate in earnest. In the meantime, the Americans host the Japanese at a dinner party aboard ship, and the Japanese host the Americans at dinner ashore. Finally, agreement! On March 31, Perry and his officers head toward the specially built Kanagawa Treaty House.

Portman: What a sight! There must be thousands of Japanese troops and samurai awaiting our arrival on shore.

Adams: Not to mention all the curious onlookers, and hundreds of our troops.

Narrator E: At a formal ceremony, Perry and high-ranking Japanese officials sign the Treaty of Kanagawa. That evening ...

Perry: It will be an honor to deliver this document to the President!

Adams: The treaty allows U.S. ships access to certain ports. They may dock and load supplies. Japan also promises not to harm U.S. citizens who come here--including shipwrecked sailors. But we still haven't won open trade.

Perry: The treaty grants the U.S. "most-favored nation" status. We have made friends here. Open trade will come.

AFTERWORD 

In 1867, the Emperor died. His son Meiji (MAY-jee) took the throne a year later (see sidebar). Just 14 years after the Treaty of Kanagawa, Japan had changed. The Shogun's control had crumbled, and the Emperor gained true political power. Believing that Japan had to modernize, Meiji helped open his country to trade. By then, thanks to Commodore Perry, the U.S. had forged important ties with the Land of the Rising Sun.

Boy Emperor

Only 16 when he became Emperor in 1868, Meiji pushed his nation into modern times. After centuries of isolation, Japan sent several Japanese scholars abroad to learn all they could of modern ideas and technology. Experts from all over the world were invited to Japan to help the country modernize.

During Meiji's reign, Japan underwent major reforms in education, politics, and economic structure. A new constitution was written. Railroads were built, and the telegraph sped communication. Meiji modernized himself as well--he preferred Western food and clothing to traditional Japanese ones.

The changes did not come easily. Many Japanese resented radical reforms and the presence of foreigners. Revolts broke out but were quelled (put down forcibly). By the time Meiji died in 1912, at age 59, Japan was well on its way to becoming a major world power--as it remains today.

WORDS to Know

* barbarians: a term the Japanese used to refer to all outsiders, whom they considered uncivilized.

* Land of the Rising Sun: The name the Japanese used for their country (Nippon, in Japanese).

* samurai (SAM-uh-rye): member(s) of the warrior class of premodern Japan; similar to the knights of medieval England.

* Shogun (SHOH-gun): Japan's military leader. The Emperor had power in name only-the Shogun ruled the country.

* tatami: Japanese floor mats made of straw.

Cast of Characters

Michiko (MEE-chee-koh) *, a Japanese peasant

Kanji (KAHN-jee) *, her husband

Toshiko (TOH-shee-koh) *, their daughter

Commodore Matthew C. Perry, leader of a U.S. expedition to Japan

Lieutenant John Contee, an officer under Perry's command

Japanese soldier, an interpreter

Anton Portman, a Dutch-speaking member of Perry's crew

Commander Henry Adams, an officer under Perry's command

Ido (EE-dob) Japanese Governors

Toda (TOH-dah) Japanese Governors

The Shogun, Japan's military commander and absolute ruler

Yuko *, adviser to the Shogun

Manjiro, a young samurai

Narrators A-E 

* An asterisk indicates an imaginary character. All others were real people.

Your Turn

THINK ABOUT IT

1. Why was a relationship with Japan critical to the United States in the 19th century?

2. What advantages might come from a nation's self-isolation from the world? What are possible disadvantages? Explain.

MATTHEW PERRY

www.history.navy.mil/library /special/perry_openjapan1.htm

QUICK QUIZ

* Match each person or phrase in the left column with the correct description in the right column.</p> <pre> --11. Millard Fillmore A. samurai who once lived in the U.S. --12. Manjiro B. a translator for the

U.S. mission --13. Meiji C. U.S. President --14. Matthew C. Perry D. youth who became

Japan's Emperor --15. Anton Portman

E. U.S. naval officer charged with opening Japan to the West </pre> <p>11. C

12. A

13. D

14. E

15. B