born Nov. 29, 1815, Hikone, Japan
died March 24, 1860, Edo [now Tokyo]
Japanese daimyo and statesman who made the last attempt to reassert the traditional political role of the shogunate (military ruler).
In response to Commodore Matthew Perry 's demand that Japan end its centuries-old policy of isolation, Ii favoured developing relations. The Tokugawa shogun signed the Perry Convention (1854), which opened two ports to U.S. ships, exposing the country to Western influence, and began negotiations with Townsend Harris over trade. In an unusual move, the shogunate had sought the emperor's consent to the treaty; when antitreaty forces blocked approval, Ii, as head of the shogunal governing body, authorized the signing. This outraged many daimyo; when Ii silenced them, he was beheaded by assassins. See also Tokugawa period ; Meiji Restoration .