A hill from which you can see the city and port of Nagasaki. Pinkerton, a lieutenant in the North American Navy, has negotiated with the Japanese matchmaker Goro his wedding to Cio-Cio-San, also known as Butterfly. The wedding is about to take place. Goro shows Pinkerton the house that is included in the marriage contract and introduces him to his future servants, among whom is Suzuki, Butterfly's maid.