Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed a small fleet of ships and opened up this country that had been closed to foreigners previously

. He negotiated the Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan in 1854, which allowed for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan. This marked the beginning of Japan's modernization and increased interaction with the rest of the world. Perry's actions played a critical role in shaping Japan's future and its place in the international community.