upon hearing the news the Shogun immediately fell ill many said from the shock of hearing that a foreign naval squadron was at his doorstep his advisers tried to deal with the [Applause] crisis fresh messages arrived one after the other the situation seemed so sudden so formidable and so important orders were issued to the great Clans to keep strict watch as if it were possible that these Barbarian vessels might proceed to acts of violence in a desperate show of force the Shogun it sent a squadron of Guard boats to surround the American ships the Japanese officer ordered the ships to leave their Commander Commodore Matthew C Perry ignored [Music] him I was well aware that the more exclusive I should make myself and the more exacting I might be the more respect these people of forms and ceremonies would award [Music] me 5,000 Samurai Warriors armed with swords and Antiquated cannons lined the shores again their chief officer commanded Perry leave Edo Bay immediately the Commodore refused I Endeavor to inculcate the idea that the government of the United States is superior in power and influence to Japan the honor of the nation calls for it and the interest of Commerce demands [Music] it the Japanese on Shore watched as Perry's Crews readed for Action cannons were loaded guns were drawn Perry came ashore Perry presented his papers and delivered his ultimatum he would be back and he expected Japan to comply with America's demand to open the country for trade if not he was prepared to take Japan by [Music] force he would return in the spring for his answer then he and his Squadron left Edo Bay their deportment and manner of Expressions were exceedingly arrogant and the resulting insult to our national dignity was not small those who heard could but Nash their teeth and suffer this insult in silence after The Barbarians had retired a certain person drew his sword and slushed to bits a portrait of their leader Perry there was great fear of Perry there were uh the the portraits of Perry as a devil there were the portraits of his ships belching fire all of this served to to to whip up you know near hysteria on the part of of portions of the Japanese populace at the same time there's Fascination there's fascination with Perry there's fascination with these ships these enormous ships that hadn't been seen before there's fascination with the technological prowess of the Americans to complicate matters the Shogun had died and the new Shogun was mentally unfit his advisers took charge but they could not reach agreement [Music] the head of the shogunate decides that he is going to pull all of the Dao in Japan what should the shogunate do uh this is a radical break with tradition the the authority of the Shogun it is to deal with foreign relations the title of the Shogun of course is the great Barbarian quelling General lisimo and yet here is the head of the Shogun it asking the Dao what he should do two positions are staked out one being known as the open the country argument the Americans do not understand the ethics of humanity and Justice there will be no choice but to start trade with them the other side being rever the emperor and expel the Barbarian the Americans have come to seize Japan therefore if we don't drive them away now the other foreign powers will follow we are in a dangerous situation while the debate raged the Shogun nut remained indecisive the end of the year was filled with half-hearted compromises and inadequate attempts at coastal defense then in February Perry returned earlier than expected this time his show of force was even more ominous he arrived with double the ships and crew the honor of the Japanese had been challenged but they had no means to defend it their only hope lay in [Music] negotiation as soon as Perry came ashore the talks began they went on on into the night and for the next 23 days in the end the treaty was a compromise which served both countries interests Perry got what he wanted which was to establish a relationship between Japan and the United States the Shogun it got what it wanted in not surrendering its control over foreign relations and opening Japan up to unregulated trade I'm not sure that the Shogun it has been given enough credit for choosing peace over war and you can say that the that the shogunate chose to open up relations with America and the West out of weakness but it didn't have to the shogunate took the practical decision and they chose peace and thereby preserved the integrity and territorial sovereignty of their country before signing the treaty with Perry the Shogun arranged a social evening a prerequisite for conducting business in Japan that continues to this day sumo wrestlers displayed their strength the first one invited Perry to punch him in the stomach another wrestler hoisted two huge bags of rice over his head to show his strength Perry offered champagne and he gave the Japanese gifts among those of particular interest a telegraph a camera and a quarter scale steam railroad unlike anything the Japanese had ever seen Japanese Engineers would quickly make plans to replicate [Music] them 3 days later the agreement was signed it was not long before Japan signed trade agreements with Russia Eng England France and Holland despite its accommodation to the West the days of the Tokugawa Dynasty were numbered no longer was the warrior class to control the destiny of Japanese Society within 10 years the samurai were officially disbanded but the samurai ethic had been indelibly engraved into Japanese culture in 1868 the 15th Shogun stepped down with his departure 265 years of rule by the Tokugawa family had come to an end the modern era of Japan had begun