ABSTRACT
The tonya, of which we have heard so much, were not restricted to Edo and Osaka alone, but were found in every part of the country. The system of special interests in the different territories was a remnant of the trade system of the Ashikaga period, and, when we take as an example the practice in the territory of Aizu in the 16th century, we see how firm a foundation the Ashikaga period laid in the provinces. I thought that further details might be obtained by studying the trade system in Niigata, an important port, and, unlike Edo and Osaka, not influenced by any new thoughts, its exclusive and monopolistic economic system being a natural product of the Ashikaga period. On account of Niigata being a comparatively safe seaport, it was an important business centre from the time of the Uyesugi family, but during the period in question, Shimomachi, where the traders were, was limited to the trade in paper and lacquered wares. In 1617, when Naoyori, lord of Tango, became suzerain, merchants flocked to Shinmachi from all parts and began to trade in paper and lacquer ware, finally affecting the prosperity of Shimomachi, whose traders protested. In 1625 the authorities proclaimed that from other production centres both Shimomachi and Shinmachi traders might engage in the sale of lacquered wooden saucers, lacquered wooden pots, rice containers, picnic-boxes, trays, and eight sun-cake trays; but the lacquered wares produced in Kiso, Aizu, and Yonezawa should be confined to the traders of Shimomachi, and forbidden to those of Shinmachi. In June 1638 the inhabitants of Shimomachi again tendered a petition to the Shogunate’s deputy, requesting that the sale of paper and lacquered ware be limited to Shimomachi only, backing their appeal by historical facts. The authorities, who were slaves to precedents in guiding their administration, gave the Shimomachi traders the exclusive rights in the said lines.
