Page "Matsudaira Katamori" Paragraph 3

The early years following his appointment were filled with trying times for his leadership of the domain.

Just one year later, Commodore Matthew C. Perry led the American East India Squadron into Edo Bay and demanded the opening of Japan to trade.

The Shogunate mobilized a massive number of men and ships from a broad coalition of feudal domains, and Aizu, being a prominent branch of the Shogun's house, was no exception.

Aizu had already received orders to provide security in the coastal areas of Kazusa and Awa provinces in the months prior to the Perry mission, and when the commodore went ashore to meet with Japanese officials, Aizu was one of the domains which provided patrol boats and coastal security for the event.

Samuel Wells Williams, a translator on the Perry mission, backs up this record: " Some of the flags seen ashore, and the red jackets, too, to-day had on them.

" This character, read " ai " was the contemporary character used in the " ai " of " Aizu ", and, as seen in artistic depictions of the era, was used on the domain's banners.