Centennial of Japan-U.S. Treaty Issued on May 17, 1960 (Showa 35) In June 1858, at end of the Edo period, the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between Japan and the United States was signed.This is a treaty for the purpose of opening a country and opening a port concluded between Japan and the United States. It was signed between the Japanese and American plenipotentiaries (T. Harris), and two years later the ratification documents were exchanged in Washington.The contents are stationed US consular officers (one-sided), free trade, opening of major ports, opening of markets in Edo and Osaka, same type of domestic and foreign currency (actually US currency is advantageous), customs agreement, foreign settlement establishment, consular officer Consular court, freedom of religion, etc.The trade treaties with the other four countries (UK, Russia, Netherlands, France) that were subsequently signed also consisted of provisions that were disadvantageous to Japan, such as the opening of ports that were subordinate to the outside world, unrestricted external jurisdiction, and exchange ratios that were disadvantageous to Japan. Since it was composed, these treaties later became big problem as "unequal treaties", and after the Meiji era, due to the relentless diplomatic efforts of Japanese government, in 1899, first, the more equal "Japan-US" between Japan and the United States. The Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed. Starting with that, it was revised in all four other countries.
This year, Japan entered the Sino-Japanese War and won the following year.The stamps are designed with Kanrin Maru (warship of the Shogunate Navy) and the official greetings of the President of the U. S and the Japanese side.