Matthew Perry and The Meiji Restoration

07 March, 1854

Before eight bells in the morning, we were aboarding the ships Susquehanna and Mississippi among the others. The crew consists of approximately 300 men. It is quite an intresting concept. We need all of these men to operate these ships, My only hope is that we will be able to impress the Japanese people with our new meanings of technology. We have firearms, guns, and cannons on our ships. We have to take these ships with the means of impressing the Japanese, and trying to get them to start a trade route with them. I do not wish to wait to find out what may happen to me if I fail my mission. That will bring total disgrace to me and my family. Just for the fact that I would have failed my country. This is my hope: that I will be a success for my sake.

Commodore Matthew Perry
11 March, 1854

It is I Matthew Perry once again. We are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is early in the year, and we are told that we will be there soon. Our flags are swaying high, and the steam from our ships are floating through the air like fluffy grey clouds. I think that this is the best time, it is not that cold outside, the brink of Spring. I wonder how the weather will be in Japan. We are to meet with Kayama Yezaiman, and his interpretors and other law officials. We hope that this expedition was not for no reason at all, we are all worried, but I try to hide it. I do not understand why I am worried, afterall I am the Commodore, I have handled many situations like this before, but this by far is the greatest. Well, we should anchor near Edo. Ans we should be there soon.
Commodore Matthew Perry

13 March, 1854

Well we have arrived - finally. It is beautiful, although I do have a few complaints. Their ships are still man powered, thus they are very slow. they have not industrialized even a little bit. We thought that they were going to be a little bit industrialized but I have to meet with Yeziaman, so I must go until later...

...I have met with Yeziaman. He seems to act as though he is not interested in the United States of America's way of life. They do not seem as though they want to be helped. However, their people were seen staring at our ships and our clothing. We may have indeed succeeded. Yes indeed we might have. Some of their people were seen drawing diagrams and pictures of all of our stuff. I have two more days to get this peace treaty signed, and I have to try hard.
Commodore Matthew Perry

15 March, 1854
That is all, We have completed our mission. They have signed the treaty, and we are on our way home. We have opened up the new way of life for these people, and for ourselves. We can now rest until our next journey.
Commodore Matthew Perry


**Edo is present day Tokyo**