In 1858, then U.S. envoy Townsend Harris pushed the Japanese government into signing its first trade agreement, effectively ending centuries of self-imposed exile.

The pact was followed within weeks by treaties with other Western nations and a year later, Yokohama opened as an international port, starting its transformation from a sleepy village to Japan's second largest city and becoming the first place to offer foreign delicacies such as beer and ice-cream.

Featuring fads from 1920s flapper-style short skirts to the neat leather boots twinned with "hakama" loose pants once favored by female students, the fashion show was an advance taste of five months of anniversary celebrations to be held in Yokohama next year.