Kaei facts for kids

The Kaei (嘉永) era was a special period in Japanese history, like a chapter in a very long book. It was a "year name" or nengō (年号), which is how Japan used to count years. The Kaei era came after the Kōka era and before the Ansei era. It started in February 1848 and ended in November 1854. During this time, the ruler of Japan was Emperor Kōmei. The name Kaei means "Celebration of Eternity" or "Eternal Happiness."

Important Events of the Kaei Era

Coins minted during the Kaei era

During the Kaei era, many important things happened that changed Japan.

• 1849: A new medical practice called vaccination was first used in Japan. It was brought by a Dutch doctor at Dejima, an island where Japan traded with other countries.

• July 1853: An American naval officer named Commodore Matthew C. Perry arrived in Japan. He sailed with his ships, often called "Black Ships," into Uraga, near what is now Tokyo Bay. This visit was a big deal because Japan had been mostly closed off from the rest of the world for a long time.

• 1854: Commodore Perry returned to Edo Bay. This time, he came to make Japan agree to a special agreement called the Treaty of Kanagawa. This treaty opened up Japan to trade with the United States. The main Japanese person who worked on this treaty was Hayashi Akira.

• May 2, 1854: A big fire sadly destroyed the Imperial Palace in Kyoto. This was the home of the Emperor.

During the Kaei era, the Japanese government, known as the shogunate, also started buying more guns and encouraging people to make them. This was a sign that Japan was preparing for changes and new interactions with other countries.

Related Information

• Edo period
• You can learn more about the Japanese calendar and its history from the National Diet Library: "The Japanese Calendar"