The first page of the English-language Treaty of Kanagawa is written in dark ink on a tall sheet and signed at the bottom by Matthew C. Perry.

March 31, 1854 · Manuscript treaty

Treaty of Kanagawa, English-Language Version

Governments of the United States and Japan

Why it matters

The treaty is narrower than the phrase "opening Japan" suggests. It provided aid and port access without establishing general trade, while the missing Japanese signatures on the English copy preserve a negotiated difference in diplomatic custom.

Publication
Treaty Series 183
Holding institution
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Shelfmark
National Archives Identifier 299806; Record Group 11; TS 183
Rights
Public Domain; work of the United States Government

Citation

Treaty of Kanagawa, English-language version. March 31, 1854. Treaty Series 183, Record Group 11. U.S. National Archives, NAID 299806.