Why did Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s arrival in 1853 create a crisis in Japan?

Commodore Matthew C. Perry’s arrival in 1853 created a profound crisis in Japan by directly challenging the nation's long-standing policy of sakoku, or self-imposed isolation, which had been in effect since the early 17th century.12

The crisis was driven by several critical factors:

• Military Vulnerability: The Japanese were acutely aware of China’s recent defeat by Western powers during the Opium War (1839–1842). Recognizing that their own armaments were no match for Perry’s technologically superior warships, the shogunate faced the immediate threat of being forced open by military might.13
• Political Instability: The arrival exposed the inability of the Tokugawa shogunate to enforce its traditional isolationist policies. While the shogunate was financially constrained and unable to mount a strong defense, many feudal lords (daimyo) opposed yielding to foreign demands, creating internal friction.12
• Forced Diplomatic Relations: Perry’s "resolute attitude" and his threat to deliver documents by force compelled the shogunate to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854. This agreement ended Japan's seclusion, weakened the shogun’s authority, and paved the way for further treaties that granted Western nations extraterritoriality and trading privileges, ultimately contributing to the collapse of the shogunate.123