You come home from a long day and sit down on your couch. You turn on your Sony TV. After you watch a show, you decide to do some drawing. You get out your pens and pencils. They are made by Sanford, in Japan. You check your Casio watch to see what time it is. It's about time for dinner. But you don't have anything in your Japanese made fridge. No frozen pizzas even. So you get into your Toyota to drive to the store. The sun is setting and the sky is full of beautiful colors. The clouds are perfect. You stop your car and grab your Nikon camera. You snap a few pictures, on the Fuji film that's loaded. Then you grab your Sony digital camera and take a few more pictures. When you get home you download the pictures onto your computer. Your computer, of course, is made up of many Japanese components.
Many things we use in our daily lives were made in Japan. Today, much business and trade happens between America and Japan. But previous to American actions in 1853, Japan had been a closed country, with no trade relations with anyone. By America opening trade, Japan has become one of the greatest world powers.
In the 1600s, the Japanese leaders decided to make the Japanese laws more strict than before. They wanted to keep control over the people, with no possibility of overthrowing the government. They believed that stability was very important to this. They made several laws to prevent any kind of change. People couldn't change residences. Their ways were very orthodox, and "rude behavior" was punishable by death. There were restrictions on types of clothing, where people could work, where people could live, what types of food could be eaten, and restrictions all the way down to the smallest details as to where to build a toilet in the house. A cast system was in place. People fell into one of six categories. In order of highest to lowest, there were nobles, warriors, peasants, artisans, merchants and peddlers. People who did any kind of acting were in the class with the peddlers. It was very difficult to move between classes, but not impossible.
Westerners were always a problem for the government. They didn't know the Japanese customs, and were unpredictable. They believed in some higher being that was more powerful than any emperor or ruler of Japan. This was a problem if the government was to keep control. Trading with them was useful, and they had some good technology, but they were too much of a risk. So the government enacted a new "closed-door" policy. From 1635, all kinds of foreign relations were banned. No foreigners could enter the country, no Japanese could leave the country, and any Japanese already out of the country could not return on pain of death. Christians in Japan, both citizens and outsiders, were forced to demonstrate their rejection of their religion. They had to crush copper symbols of Christianity with their feet. By closing their doors, they were eliminating the possibility of anyone inside Japan forming an alliance with a military force outside the country to overthrow the government.
In the late 1700s to early 1800s, many European nations made formal attempts to reopen relations with Japan, at least to resupply ships on the way elsewhere. The US also tried several times. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Japan realized the westerners were not going to leave them alone. They still didn't want any kind of relations, and they tried to suppress debate within the country so it wasn't even an issue. One man was forced to commit suicide for urging the country to reopen relations. In the 1860s, a man tried to compromise, blending "Eastern ethics" and "Western science." But that was enough for him to be assassinated.
In 1853, president Millard Fillmore sent a fleet of four ships to Edo bay in Japan. The commander of the mission, Matthew Perry, had official orders to request three things: better treatment for castaways, opening the ports for provisions and fuel, and opening the ports for trade. When the four ships showed up in Japan, the Japanese were shocked. They had never seen such huge cannons before. Perry made it clear he would use force if necessary, and this was a bit of an intimidation. He delivered the letter and then said he would be back in a year. What could the Japanese do? He returned in 1854 with nine ships. They had little choice but to agree. The closed doors had been forced open.
Following this action came many changes that modernized Japan. The old oppressive government was slowly defeated, and a new government took its place. The restrictive class system was abolished and restructured into nobles, warriors and commoners. The old lowest classes merged with the commoners. But as anywhere else, in practice the discrimination continued. A modern mint and banking system was introduced. People were sent to the US to learn about monetary systems.
The government realized that since Japan was part of the world again, they wanted to be respected. If they became more westernized, then they would be taken seriously by the west. They wanted to be seen and treated as an equal, or even as a better. They adopted many western ideas and technology.
Telegraphs started operating in 1869, and a postal service in 1871. In 1872, western clothing was required for all government officials and postmen. These clothes were even required during ceremonial occasions, a hideous thing to have done prior to the new government. Starting January 1, 1873, the western solar calendar replaced the old lunar one. But one of the greatest physical symbols of the westernization of Japan was its railway. The first railway was opened in May 1872. Within 15 years, 1,000 miles of track had been laid, and by the end of the century there were 5,000. This new infrastructure made traveling great distances much less of a burden. People could stop living only in their own communities and could experience much more of Japan, and also the world.
Japan is now one of the leaders in technology. They are famous for their fast railroad. The cars float by means of electromagnets just slightly above the tracks. This means less friction, and greater speed. This is an example of how Japan has taken western technology and built upon it until Japan's version is better than the original.
The people of Japan had been told for hundreds of years exactly how they could behave. Progression was suppressed. A great potential existed inside Japan, but was never allowed to be released. When America opened their doors, the potential was allowed to flow out, and Japan quickly grew.
The progression of Japan feeds the progression of America. It's a circle. If America hadn't opened Japan's doors, they wouldn't have progressed this far this quickly, and America wouldn't have the benefit of Japanese-made products. Without America's help, Japan wouldn't be the industrial leader it is today. They would still have an oppressive government, and their people would still be stuck inside the country. Japan has accomplished its goal of being treated as an equal, and surpassed it. Japan has become a leader.

Bibliography

Beasley, W. G. The Rise of Modern Japan. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1990.
Henshall, Kenneth G. A History of Japan. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999.
Whitaker, Donald P. Area Handbook for Japan. Washington D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1977.
Peck, Ira. Japan. New York: Scholastic Book Services, 1981.