Sail all around Japan: part 3
As we have written in a previous article, we've arrived at the Kagoshima (鹿児島) port, southern end of Kyushu (九州). And also, we have met a very important merchant, Mr. Hamasaki (浜崎氏). The Hamasaki merchant group had wide maritime routes. These routes were west-Kyushu costal line from Kagoshima to Northern area, north-Kyushu and Japan-sea lines to Hakodate (函館) in Hokkaido (北海道). These maritime routes were wide enough to cover our reckless plan.
Although they were one of merchants patronized by the Satsuma-han (薩摩藩), they were a private company. They maintained constant large-scale shipping activities by their decisions. That is the most reassuring thing, because in case of emergency, they can decide their own decisions. We will roll up our sleeves and go as long as we can. And we would like to focus on the route around Hokkaido as soon as possible.
The Satsuma-han (薩摩藩) was considered to be one of the great power (powerful rural governments) in the Edo period. This great power protected the Hamasaki merchant group from the regulations of the central government or "Bakufu(幕府)" and rural governments (諸藩). And it ordered trading and maritime cargo shipping of it's own produces.
We are surprised by the fact that Hamasaki group (浜崎家) visited far north region like Hokkaido (北海道). Having said that, we think we slightly understand the possibility. Because we agree the fact that the Satsuma-han's power was overwhelming other rural governments in the Edo period.
By the way, we would like to explain a little about the maritime cargo in the Sea of Japan (日本海). The cargo ships sailed in the Sea of Japan were called "Kitamaesen (北前船)." These cargo ships started Osaka and visited Shimonoseki (下関), and leaving Shimonoseki, they sailed costal routes of the Sea of Japan to Hokkaido. And after the arrival at Hokkaido, they sailed opposite way.
The Sea of Japan was difficult to navigate for the cargo ships at that time. However, many merchants tried to enter this business. Because, if they succeeded to enter the business, they could earn quite many fortune.
So, we think the Satsuma-han couldn't keep looking silently, and stuck their noses where the plenty of fortune was there. We think we've mentioned a little sarcastic comment. Therefore, we should leave off around here, because they give fortunate for us, we should say thank you for them.
Then the story continues like this.
A cargo ship which departed the Kagoshima port (鹿児島港) stops at the Nagasaki port (長崎港). This port locates north-west region of Kyushu (九州).
By the way, why the Hamasaki group had their branch at the Nagasaki port? The reason was that they maintained the trade with foreign countries.
Officially, Japan avoided trade, but actually Japan engaged in trade with the Netherlands and China. And, the Nagasaki port was famous as the only international port to these countries.
The trading ships from the Netherlands visited the Nagasaki port, and the trade between the Netherlands and Japan was flourished there. However, the volume of trade between China and Japan was 9 times larger than the volume between the Netherlands and Japan.
If we mention the trading products of the Satsuma-han, they exported many seafood and ceramics called Satsuma-yaki (薩摩焼) to China. And also the Satsuma-han was active to the Netherlands. The Netherlands imported gold, silver, copper and camphor or "Shono (樟脳)" from Japan. And this camphor was exclusively exported from the Satsuma-han. The Dutch East India Company shipped camphor as the fragrances to their homeland. The Hamasaki group was involved in this trade and shipping between the Satsuma-han's territories to this port.
Then, what was the connection between the Nagasaki port (長崎港) and the Shimonoseki port (下関港) ? And, between these ports and "Kitamaesen (北前船)" which sailed in the Sea of Japan (日本海)? That was kelp (one of seaweed) or "Konbu (昆布)." Large amount of kelp was exported to China from the Nagasaki port. And the kelp was produced in Hokkaido (北海道). So, the maritime cargo merchants shipped kelp produced in Hokkaido to the Nagasaki port. Moreover, the merchants group from Nagasaki had the branch at Hakodate (函館) in Hokkaido. Because the trading of kelp was big business at that time.
We suppose that the Hamasaki group (浜崎家) also had the route from Hokkaido to Nagasaki. And they carried the products gathered at Hokkaido to the Nagasaki port using the maritime route in the Sea of Japan. In this way, we traveled Nagasaki, Shimonoseki, and Sado (佐渡).
The reason we got off the Hamasaki's cargo ship at Sado was to find another cargo group here. And that cargo group was called Zeniya (銭屋). The Zeniya group had established in Kanazawa (金沢). They engaged the maritime cargo business mainly in the Sea of Japan. And they had 34 branches in Osaka, Edo and all around Japan. They engaged not only the western maritime route (from Hokkaido to Osaka) but also the eastern route (from Hokkaido to Edo).
Then the story continues like this.
We find the Zeniya's cargo ship and ride it. It sailed to Hakodate (函館) in Hokkaido (北海道). At this point, it becomes necessary to explain the special circumstances of Hokkaido.
Hokkaido was the region ruled by indigenous people even in the later Edo period. Only around 3 towns, Hakodate (函館), Matsumae (松前), and Esashi (江差) were ruled by Japanese. The rural government governed this area was called Matsumae-han (松前藩). Other area was not governed by any people except the indigenous people.
However, from 1855, the settlement of Japanese began. Because some foreign countries such as Russia and USA began to invade this area. Bakufu (幕府) allowed settlement then, but living in Hokkaido was prohibited before then. So, the cargo ships had visited many area in Hokkaido, but these were temporary stopping for the trading with indigenous people.
Especially in Hakodate, many "Kitamaesen (北前船)" merchants such as Zeniya (銭屋) opened their branches. And majority of the Kitamaesen merchants stopped only 3 towns, Hakodate, Matsumae, and Esashi. They bought products which were gathered by Matsumae-han's employees. And also sold many goods they carried from Osaka or ports of call on the way. Several merchants visited Otaru (小樽), which is located at west coast of Hokkaido and a little north of Esashi. So, for the usual Kitamaesen merchants, Otaru was the north end.
If so, how we sail off the coast of Cape Soya which is the north end of Hokkaido? And we need to continue the sailing further. Are there any cargo ships which bring us around Hokkaido? It might be the core problem of this adventure. We will consider the problem in the next chapter.
The true reason we focus on Zeniya (銭屋) is there. Several maritime cargo merchants based in Hokkaido were active in other places around Hokkaido. So, they sailed off the coast of west Hokkaido and visited many west coast towns such as Otaru (小樽) and Rishiri (利尻). They sailed off the coast of Cape Soya (宗谷岬). And also they visited several towns around Nemuro (根室).
Let's check the locations. Hakodate (函館) is located in the southern end of Hokkaido. And Nemuro is in the eastern end. When you sail from Hakodate to Nemuro, the route traveling the east coastal line of Hokkaido is shorter than the west coastal line. So, if there are 2 routes, you would be better to chose the east route. However, there were many ports for trade in the west route.
To tell the truth, we didn't find records of individual cargo routes. But we think there's high possibility that both routes (the west route and the east route from Hakodate to Nemuro) were existed.
Our voyage is held using these routes.
We land Hakodate and change the cargo ship. The cargo ship travels to the Otaru port, the Rishiri port, the Nemuro port, and go back again to the Hakodate port. Then we complete the travel around Hokkaido.
The reason we go back to Hakodate is the uncertainty of the direct cargo route to Edo. We have an information that the cargo merchants of the Sendai (仙台) port were visited around the Nemuro port. So, we can have an extra plan. The extra plan is that we will land the Nemuro port and change cargo group there, who came from Sendai. However, we don't have any information about the Nemuro port at that time.And also we don't know how often the cargo ship from Sendai visited the Nemuro port then. Furthermore, we don't know how many inn were there in the Nemuro port at that time.
At the worst case, we may stay at the Nemuro port a year or more. And we may not find inns or other places to rest in this town. So, we chose a secure route immediately.
We chose Zeniya's (銭屋) eastbound cargo ship from the Hakodate (函館) port. We moved to the Aomori (青森) port on the opposite shore, and the Sendai (仙台) port, the Choshi (銚子) port. From the Choshi port, we sail Boso Peninsula and go around it to the Uraga (浦賀) port. We have checked by the government there, and land around Nihonbashi (日本橋).
We have landed Edo (江戸) again, and completed our reckless adventure!
We don't know the actual adventurers who tried this kind of travel. Our travel is sometimes conveniently for the plot. But, we hope you can agree if you have opportunity you can travel all around Japan using maritime cargo route.
During the travel from Edo to Osaka, we can describe the travel days with some degree of authenticity. However, after the departure of the Osaka port, we cannot. According to a book, shipping on the Sea of Japan was usually from Spring to the beginning of Autumn, and during Winter, no cargo ship could sail there. If our travel delayed and Autumn come when we are around Nagasaki or on the Sea of Japan to Hokkaido, we may get stuck around there. If so, we may need to stay there hole one year.
Lastly, we are happy because Japanese weren't stuck in homeland but at least around the homeland they sailed freely. The route-range was only around the homeland but they tried highly motivated trials. Then, after the feudal era, they soon became one of maritime powers.
Bye!
