Editing Imperial Japan (section)

=== Background ===
In 1854, the US Navy under the command of commodore Matthew C. Perry led a fleet of black ships to force Japan to end its reign of isolationism under the Convention of Kanagawa and encourage Japan to establish trading relations with the West. Initially, Emperor Osahito (Kōmei) issued an order to "expel the barbarians", but ultimately died of smallpox and was replaced by his son, Mutsuhito. Thus, the period of ''bakumatsu'' (幕末) began and the Edo period came to an end.