In celebration of 150 years of friendly relations between Japan and the United States, research biologist Matthew C. Perry gave a lecture on his great-great-great-uncle -- Commodore Matthew C. Perry.
The historical Perry is credited with being the first U.S. diplomat to open friendly relations with Japan.
His namesake, who works at the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, described how Commodore Perry was able to negotiate with the Japanese through his naturally diplomatic personality.
Commodore Perry "represents a person trying to do the best he could. He went [to Japan] in a peaceful way," his relative said. Perry's expedition "made this long-term relationship with Japan beautiful and comfortable."
Co-sponsored by the University's Center for East Asian Studies and the Japan-America Society of Greater Philadelphia, the talk is part of a series of events in honor of the 150-year anniversary of Commodore Perry's first voyage to Japan in 1853.
For the approximately 40 audience members, the lecture was more personal since it was delivered by a family member. The biologist even prefaced his lecture by displaying several antique family photos.
"I was hoping it'd be a little more in-depth analysis on [Commodore Perry's effects on] East-West relations, but I realize [Perry] isn't a historian. He offered a more intimate perspective," College senior Uyen Doan said. The Asian and Middle Eastern studies minor came to the talk because she thought "it'd be interesting to hear about his [journey] through his relative."
Other listeners also enjoyed the more personal side of the discussion.
"I'm taking Japanese class, and my professor recommended this talk on Asian history," College senior Ian Mills said. "I liked when he actually talked about when Perry got to Japan and the relations he had, the way both representatives reacted to each other."
Commodore Perry opened up relations between the United States and Japan on July 8, 1853, arriving in his famous black ships in what is present-day Tokyo, formerly Edo Bay. He initiated the Treaty of Kanagawa soon after, which allowed American foreigners into the Japanese ports of Shimoda and Hakodate.
