In the second half of the Edo period, Japan opened its secluded economy to the world, and the New Meiji Government sent to the government of the Joseon Dynasty an envoy holding a letter with the sovereign's message which informed them of the founding of a new administration of Japan and requested to establish relations and start to trade on December 19, 1868.
江戸時代後期に開国し、明治新政府が成立した日本では1868年（慶応4年）12月19日に新政権樹立の通告と国交と通商を求める国書を持つ使者を李氏朝鮮政府に送った。