The Japan-US Treaty of Amity

These are manuscripts of the treaties of amity and commerce concluded with each of Russia, France, U.K., Netherland, and the United States in 1858, one year before Japan opened the country. The description of “The import of opium (a kind of narcotics) shall be strictly prohibited” is already found in the manuscripts at the time.

From the right, treaties with Russia, France, U.K., Netherland, and U.S. (opened manuscript)

Yokohama before opening its port

Picture of Yokohama in 1859
The description at the left top says that it was drawn in March in the old calendar in 1859.

In 1859, Yokohama was a small fishing village with about 100 families.

At the time, Japan was a closed country, because in 1635, the government started its policy to prohibit foreign trade by private businesses and overseas traveling: namely, “National Isolation Policy.”

The National Isolation Policy, however, ended in 1859 when this picture was drawn. In 1853, American warships came over to force Japan to open the country.

The Birth of Yokohama Port and Yokohama Customs

This is a picture of Yokohama Port after its opening drawn in 1873
by Sadahide GOUNTEI representing Ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints) artists in Yokohama

On July 1, 1859, the Japanese government opened three ports: Yokohama, Hakodate, and Nagasaki, under the treaties concluded with the U.S. and European countries in the previous year.

At that time, “Kanagawa Unjosho (checkpoint)” was established to supervise and control foreign vessels and cargoes. This is the beginning of Yokohama Customs.

Yokohama Port is one of the oldest ports, and Yokohama Customs is the oldest customs in Japan, respectively, and Yokohama Port became the center of Japan’s trade as early as the year following the opening of the port.

【Pictures below (from the right)】

○ Patrol boat: When a foreign vessel arrived at the port, officials from Unjosho (Customs) boarded the vessel by a small boat to meet the captain.

○ Appearance of Unjosho covered in a British newspaper in 1861

○ Magnified figure of the area around Unjosho

○ Gate of Unjosho: Officials in the Unjosho. The replica gate is displayed in this Museum.