*The [[VOC|Dutch East India Company]] sends a letter to the shogunate from King William II warning that if the shogunate did not loosen its [[maritime restrictions|restrictions on foreign trade]], sooner or later one of the other European powers would seek to use force to "open" Japan. | *The [[VOC|Dutch East India Company]] sends a letter to the shogunate from King William II warning that if the shogunate did not loosen its [[maritime restrictions|restrictions on foreign trade]], sooner or later one of the other European powers would seek to use force to "open" Japan. |