ABSTRACT
A CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF THE TOKUMI TONYAS.-As previously shown, when the Tokumi tonyas was first formed, similar trades combined with the purpose of protecting one another's interests, but, later, efforts were made to find other ways to increase their gains, and finally, taking a new turn, the tonya partook of the nature of a mercantile system, monopolizing goods from O-u passing through Edo destined for Osaka, so that all Edo merchants who formed guilds joined the organization, and all who joined made their trade hereditary, maintaining the rights of kabu. In such a situation the executives of the Tokumi tonyas were like lords of provinces. This guild may be likened to the East India Company, the only difference being that where one had its rights overseas, the other had them at home. Of course, the Tokumi tonyas became the envy of the Edo and Osaka merchants outside their circle, and the moving spirit of the organization, Mojiro Sugimoto, was overwhelmed by all sorts of slander and attack, and became the object of caricature and satire.
