|
|
Commerce with Japan began after American Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in 1853 at the port of Shimoda, Japan, and demanded Japanese ports be opened for trade. Japan been ruled by shoguns for about 700 years. The capital city had been established at Edo, now Tokyo, and was the world’s largest city from the late 17th to the early 19th centuries. Trade had been cut off with all countries except China and Holland, because the shogun wanted Japan to remain free of outside influences. Japanese society was largely medieval in style, highly organized, and agricultural, but they also practiced mining, forestry, and fishing. Whaling has a long history in Japan.
|
