On this day, July 29, in 1858

The United States and Japan signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which opened Japanese ports to foreign trade and signaled the end of Japan's strict isolationist policies and its resistance to foreign powers.  This treaty sparked a number of similar treaties between Japan and various European nations, which were often referred to as 'unequal treaties' because they subjected Japan to the financial whims of powerful foreign nations.  This period of 'unequal treaties' pushed Japan into economic and political crises that compelled Japan to adopt Western-style political, judicial and military institutions.  This legacy is an integral part of Japan's transformation into not only an industrialized world power, but East Asia's version of the colonial power.