When Commodore Mathew C. Perry arrived in Japan in 1853, Japan was at a time of national seclusion. A time in which the Tokugawa shogunate is isolated Japan from the rest of the world allowing only Chinese and Dutch merchants to enter its port for trade. The United State at this time was trading with China and, motivated by mercantile ambition, they decided to move further to Japan.

This in 1853 president Millard Fillmore sent Perry on a mission to Japan to negotiate a commercial treaty. But, the first attempt failed and Perry left Japan declaring that he would return the next year with an extended naval force. The Tokugawa government took this threat seriously for they were not prepared both financially and militarily for a battle with the West. This in 1853 president Millard Fillmore sent Perry on a mission to Japan to negotiate a commercial treaty. But, the first attempt failed and Perry left Japan declaring that he would return the next year with an extended naval force.

      

 

 

 The Tokugawa government took this threat seriously for they were not prepared both financially and militarily for a battle with the West. Perry did return in 1854 and successfully negotiated with Japan into signing the United-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1858. In 1859 other nations joined in the commercial treaties with Japan. The nations include England, France, Russia, and the Netherlands, these nations became known as the Five Nations. What the West was most influenced in trading with Japan was silk but they also traded tea, cotton, copper, etc.    

  After the fall of Tokugawa shogunate in 1867 the emperor Mutsuhito took control of Japan and his reign became known as the Meiji era or "enlightened government." At this time the Japanese have adopted Western costumes such as clothing, technology and even Western law. There was also as tremendous outburst of interest in all things Western and Western art was part of the craze. The art style of this period especially paintings and woodblock prints was significantly influenced by Western realism.