The historical figure associated with the opening of Japan to the Western world in the 19th century is Commodore Matthew Perry. In 1853, Perry, representing the United States Navy, arrived in Tokyo Bay with a fleet of ships to negotiate a trade agreement. His actions were pivotal in ending Japan's centuries-long policy of isolationism, which had restricted foreign trade and influence. The subsequent Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854 opened Japan to American trade, leading to similar agreements with other Western powers. Perry's expedition marked the beginning of significant modernization and Westernization in Japan, ultimately changing its trajectory in global affairs.