Japan-British Treaty of 1858

The Japan-British Treaty of 1858 was an agreement that established formal diplomatic and trade relations between Japan and Britain. It allowed British merchants to operate freely in Japan, opened several Japanese ports to international trade, and granted Britain extraterritorial rights, meaning British citizens in Japan were subject to British laws rather than Japanese laws. This treaty marked Japan’s transition from isolated feudal policies to greater international engagement, laying the groundwork for further trade and diplomatic relations. It was part of a broader wave of treaties Japan signed with Western powers during the mid-19th century, influenced by the end of Japan's isolationist policy.