When did the us get involved with japan?

The United States first got involved with Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled from 1603 to 1868. The first trade between the U.S. and Japan was in 1797 when the American vessel Eliza anchored at Nagasaki. In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan with a fleet of ships and demanded the opening of the country to foreign trade. This led to the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, which granted the U.S. access to the ports of Hakodate and Shimoda. In 1860, the Harris Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed, which further regulated trade between the two countries and also allowed the U.S. to station a consul in Shimoda. The United States continued to play a role in Japan's modernization and westernization during the Meiji period (1868-1912), and the two countries maintained diplomatic relations throughout the early 20th century.