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Tôkyô Bay in 1854
In
1853 Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Uraga in Tôkyô
Bay and asked that Japan opened itself to foreign trade. Next March
1954, he returned to Japan wit a squadron of nine ships (3 steam ships)
to press his demands. Two ships were dispatched to Shimoda to
investigate whether it could supply the water, charcoal and other
materials needed by the American vessels. After the conclusion of the
Treaty of Kanagawa, seven of Perrry´s ships entered the port of
Shimoda.