From May 15th to 17th, 2026, YCAPS Executive Director and John Bradford and Senior Advisor for Education Annette Bradford represented the organization at the 87th Black Ship Festival in Shimoda, Japan. In Shimoda, they joined fellow Perry 175 committee member Hiroko Yamaguch to met with city leaders from both Shimoda and its sister city of Newport, Rhode Island. These conversations were important steps laying groundwork for future activities supporting the memory of Commodore Matthew Perry and the US Navy Expedition to Japan. For YCAPS and the Perry 175 initiative, participating in these vibrant local celebrations provides a unique opportunity to engage directly with the communities that share this rich maritime history, honoring the enduring legacy and strength of U.S.-Japan relations. The shared goal is to ensure that these upcoming multi-year commemorations serve not only as moments of celebration, but as robust platforms for meaningful reflection and continued dialogue on the maritime connections that shape the Indo-Pacific.
The Shimoda Black Ship Festival is held annually to commemorate the historic arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry's expedition in 1853, a pivotal moment that ended Japan's era of seclusion and opened the nation to international diplomacy and trade. The festival begins with a graveside service to remember the crew members of Commodore Perry's expedition who lost their lives. This takes place at Gyokusenji Temple, the site of the first US Consulate. Over a period of three days, there are fireworks, a wreath-laying service, concerts, parades, a sketch reenacting the signing of the Treaty of Shimoda, and, of course, lots of food.
