Looks ok.

I think it's worth mentioning Perry at least. How about this?
Regarding [id] on sense 2, I don't think it's necessary given that this sense is just a figurative use of sense 1. It's not really what I'd consider an idiom.

@@ -18 +18 @@
-<gloss g_type="expl">Western ships which came to Japan between the 16th and 19th centuries</gloss>
+<gloss g_type="expl">Western ships that came to Japan between the 16th and 19th centuries, esp. those of the Perry Expedition in 1853</gloss>

Isn't the fact that they brought about the 
opening of Japan worth mentioning?

Daijs and nikk btw all have a separate sense 
for "esp. the black ships of the Perry 
Expedition"

I think it was a bit encyclopedic I sugest a rather major pruning.

@@ -18 +18 @@
-<gloss g_type="expl">Western ships, often painted with tar, that came to Japan between the 16th and 18th centuries, esp. those of the Perry Expedition (1853) that led to the opening of Japan</gloss>
+<gloss g_type="expl">Western ships which came to Japan between the 16th and 19th centuries</gloss>

daijs

Too wordy?

@@ -16 +16,3 @@
-<gloss>black ships (i.e. Western ships, often painted with tar, that came to Japan in the 16th century)</gloss>
+<misc>&hist;</misc>
+<gloss>black ships</gloss>
+<gloss g_type="expl">Western ships, often painted with tar, that came to Japan between the 16th and 18th centuries, esp. those of the Perry Expedition (1853) that led to the opening of Japan</gloss>