<Tr> <Td> § XI </Td> <Td> Opening of an American consulate at Shimoda </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> § XII </Td> <Td> Treaty to be ratified within 18 months of signing </Td> </Tr> <P> The final article, Article Twelve, stipulated that the terms of the treaty were to be ratified by the President of the United States and the "August Sovereign of Japan" within 18 months . At the time, shōgun Tokugawa Iesada was the de facto ruler of Japan; for the Emperor to interact in any way with foreigners was out of the question . Perry concluded the treaty with representatives of the shogun, led by plenipotentiary Hayashi Akira (林 韑) and the text was endorsed subsequently, albeit reluctantly, by Emperor Kōmei . The treaty was ratified on 21 February 1855 . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> History of Japan </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Periods (hide) <Table> <Tr> <Td> Paleolithic </Td> <Td> before 14,000 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Jōmon </Td> <Td> 14,000--300 BC </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Yayoi </Td> <Td> 300 BC--300 AD </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kofun </Td> <Td> 300--538 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Asuka </Td> <Td> 538--710 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Nara </Td> <Td> 710--794 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Heian </Td> <Td> 794--1185 </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Table> <Tr> <Td> Kamakura </Td> <Td> 1185--1333 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Kenmu Restoration </Td> <Td> 1333--1336 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Muromachi (Ashikaga) <Ul> <Li> Nanboku - chō </Li> <Li> Sengoku </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1336--1573 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Azuchi--Momoyama <Ul> <Li> Nanban trade </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1573--1603 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Edo (Tokugawa) <Ul> <Li> Sakoku </Li> <Li> Convention of Kanagawa </Li> <Li> Bakumatsu </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1603--1868 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Meiji <Ul> <Li> Boshin War </Li> <Li> Restoration </Li> <Li> First Sino - Japanese War </Li> <Li> Boxer Rebellion </Li> <Li> Russo - Japanese War </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1868--1912 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Taishō <Ul> <Li> World War I </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1912--1926 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Shōwa <Ul> <Li> Financial crisis </Li> <Li> Militarism </Li> <Li> World War II </Li> <Li> Occupation </Li> <Li> Economic miracle </Li> <Li> Post-occupation </Li> <Li> Bubble Economy </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1926--1989 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Heisei <Ul> <Li> Lost Decade </Li> </Ul> </Td> <Td> 1989--present </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Topics (show) <Ul> <Li> Currency </Li> <Li> Earthquakes </Li> <Li> Economy </Li> <Li> Education </Li> <Li> Empire </Li> <Li> Historiography </Li> <Li> Military </Li> <Li> Naval </Li> <Li> Post-war </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> Glossary </Li> <Li> Timeline </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Who opened japan to trade with the treaty of kanagawa