地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Omi Merchants

Omi merchants were traveling traders from the province of Omi (now Shiga Prefecture) who made a name for themselves throughout Japan between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. They established enterprises in cities and towns far from home and built up a strong reputation for their shrewd business sense, hard work, and spirit of fair dealing. They also contributed to the modernization of the Japanese economy during the Meiji era (1868–1912), and many of the businesses they started developed into corporations that still operate today. The wealth they accumulated is reflected in the fine houses that line the streets of historic Omihachiman.

The success of the Omi merchants was in part due to the geographical location of their base. Omi was close to both the political capital of Kyoto and the commercial hub of Osaka. The province was also on the route of both the Nakasendo and the Tokaido highways, the two main routes connecting Edo (now Tokyo) with Kyoto. Trading is thought to have been relatively widely practiced in Omi from the twelfth century onward, but the Omi merchants’ rise to prominence truly began in the sixteenth century with the free-trade policies initiated by the warlord Oda Nobunaga (1534–1582). Nobunaga had Azuchi Castle built as his center of power in Omi in 1576 and established a town below it. To encourage merchants to settle in Azuchi, he allowed them to operate independently of existing guilds and with a significant degree of freedom, under a system called rakuichi-rakuza (“free markets, open guilds”). In 1582, Oda Nobunaga was killed and his castle at Azuchi destroyed. However, another warlord, Toyotomi Hidetsugu (1568–1595), had a new castle built on nearby Hachimanyama in 1585 and established the town of Hachiman (now Omihachiman) in the area below the castle. He invited the Azuchi merchants to settle in Hachiman and continued Nobunaga’s free-trade policies.

Ten years later, Hidetsugu was dead and his castle abandoned, but the free-trade system had spread throughout Omi Province and facilitated a commercial boom. Omi merchants, having prospered during these years, began to expand their activities into other regions. Merchants from different areas of Omi traded in goods specific to their area and were active in different regions. Hachiman merchants typically dealt in mosquito nets, tatami surface matting, and hemp cloth products. They were among the first to open stores in Edo (now Tokyo), anticipating that city’s emergence as the de facto capital of Japan in the early 1600s after the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate. They also took part in the development of Ezo (now Hokkaido). Before the Tokugawa shogunate forbade foreign travel, some Hachiman merchants journeyed as far as Siam (now Thailand) and Annam (Vietnam).

The classic image of an Omi merchant is of a peddler wearing a conical hat and a long cape, carrying goods on a long pole balanced on his shoulders. Omi merchants began their business by traveling this way across Japan, selling their goods and establishing a regular market for their most popular products, which they would then procure to order. When they had saved enough money, they would open a permanent store, and the most successful merchants were able to set up networks of stores in the major cities.

An important factor in the Omi merchants’ success was their strong business ethic. As outsiders in the regions where they peddled their goods, they were often treated with suspicion. They also had to deal with the general prejudice against merchants, who in Edo society were placed at the bottom of the social hierarchy because they did not produce anything tangible. To overcome these obstacles, they built trust with honest business practices and gained local acceptance by actively encouraging industries in the areas where they traded. The Omi merchants were firm believers in hard work, thrift, and fair dealing, and adhered to various principles that reflected their business philosophy. These principles were passed on from one generation to the next and were seen as fundamental for the lasting success of a family business. One was “save and strive” (shimatsu shite kibaru) expressing the merchants’ belief that long-term business success depends on making the most of what you have and working hard. One of the best-known principles of the Omi merchants is summarized in the expression sanpo yoshi or “benefit for all three parties.” This means any business deal should be good for the seller, good for the buyer, and good for society at large.

The Omi merchants’ ethos of contributing to society is reflected in the concept of “hidden virtue and good deeds” (intoku zenji). For the merchants, it was important to share wealth for the benefit of society without seeking praise and publicity for such works. Their contributions to society therefore took the form of funding for public works such as the construction of schools, roads, and bridges, and donations to shrines and temples.

近江商人

近江商人，即來自近江國（今滋賀縣）的行商，16世紀至19世紀，他們的聲名傳遍了全日本。近江商人在遠離家鄉的城鎮興辦實業，依靠靈敏的商業嗅覺、勤奮和公正的交易精神贏得了高度讚譽。進入明治時代(1868-1912)後，日本經濟的現代化發展更是少不了他們的貢獻，他們當年興辦的許多企業迄今猶存。而他們累積的財富，從近江八幡老街區沿街旁矗立的豪宅中便可見一斑。

近江商人的成功，在一定程度上要歸功於所處的地理位置。近江距離政治中心京都和商業中心大阪都很近，通常認為，從12世紀開始，近江就已經廣泛展開貿易活動。但令近江商人真正崛起的，是戰國武將織田信長（1534-1582）於16世紀頒佈的自由貿易政策。1576年，織田信長修建安土城作為自己的行政中心，並在其下建立了「城下町」（圍繞城郭發展起來的市鎮）。為了鼓勵商人來安土城定居發展，織田信長允許他們獨立於被稱為「座」的行業工會之外，並在「樂市樂座」制度下享有高度自由。1582年，織田信長被殺，安土城覆滅。1585年，武將豐臣秀次(1568-1595)在八幡山修建了一座新的城郭，還在其山腳下建立了八幡町，這便是今天的近江八幡。豐臣秀次邀請安土商人移居八幡町，並繼續貫徹織田信長的自由貿易政策。

10年後，豐臣秀次去世，八幡山城廢棄，但自由貿易體系已經在近江國推廣，促進商業走向繁榮。在此期間，近江商人崛起，開始向外拓展事業。來自近江各地的商人活躍在不同的地區，販賣家鄉的特產。最常見的商品包括蚊帳、榻榻米蓆面和麻布製品。17世紀早期，德川幕府建立，近江商人預測江戶將成為日本的首都，於是馬上在此開店經營。另外，他們還參與了蝦夷地（今北海道）的開發。在德川幕府閉關鎖國之前，甚至有近江商人遠行至暹羅（今泰國）和安南（今越南）。

斗笠、長斗篷，一根長棒挑著貨物行走賣貨，這就是近江商人的經典形象。近江商人的事業是從行腳販貨開始的，他們走遍日本各地兜售貨物，為最受歡迎的商品建立起穩定的供需關係，然後依據訂單進貨調配。一旦存到了足夠的資金，他們就會開辦店鋪，最成功的商人甚至能在全國各主要城市建立起店鋪網絡。

近江商人能夠如此成功，很重要的一點在於他們具備良好的商業道德。他們行走各地販賣商品，身為外來者，不免常常遭受質疑，整個社會對於商人的偏見也是他們需要面對的問題。江戶時代（1603-1867），商人處於社會階層的最底層，因為他們不生產任何實物。為了克服這些障礙，他們依靠誠信買賣換取信任，憑藉積極推動貿易地區的實業發展贏得當地社會的接納。近江商人始終奉行勤勞、節儉和誠信經營，堅守基於該理念的行為準則。這些準則代代相傳，被視為能為家族生意帶來長久興隆的基石。其中之一是「節儉勤勉」，換句話說，長期的商業成功取決於充分利用所擁有的資源並勤奮工作。而「三贏」則是近江商人最著名的圭臬之一，意為任何買賣都應當為賣家、買家和社會三方謀取最大利益。

「陰德善事」（積陰德，做善事）是近江商人們所奉行的座右銘。他們相信，對於商人來說，不求名譽，分享財富來造福社會是非常重要的。因此，他們往往會為創辦學校、修路造橋等公共事業提供資金，或向神社、寺廟捐資來回饋社會。

近江商人

近江商人，即来自近江国（今滋贺县）的行商，16世纪至19世纪，他们的声名传遍了全日本。近江商人在远离家乡的城镇创办产业，依靠灵敏的商业嗅觉、勤奋和公正的交易精神赢得了高度赞誉。进入明治时代(1868-1912)后，日本经济的现代化发展更是少不了他们的贡献，他们当年兴办的许多企业迄今犹存。而他们累积的财富，在近江八幡老街区沿街排布的精美宅邸上便可见一斑。

近江商人的成功，在一定程度上要归功于所处的地理位置。近江距离政治中心京都和商业中心大阪都很近，应该从12世纪开始，近江就已经广泛展开贸易活动。但令近江商人真正崛起的，是战国武将织田信长(1534-1582)于16世纪颁布的自由贸易政策。1576年，织田信长着手修建安土城作为自己的行政中心，并在其下建立了“城下町”（围绕城郭发展起来的市镇）。为了鼓励商人来安土定居发展，织田信长允许他们独立于行业工会“座”之外，并在“乐市乐座”制度下享有高度自由。1582年，织田信长被杀，他的安土城被废弃。1585年，另一位武将丰臣秀次(1568-1595)在八幡山修建了一座新的城郭，还在其脚下建立了八幡町，这便是今天的近江八幡。丰臣秀次邀请安土商人移居八幡町，继续贯彻织田信长的自由贸易政策。

10年后，丰臣秀次去世，八幡山城亦被废弃，但自由贸易体系已经在近江国普及开来，推动着商业走向繁荣。在此期间，近江商人崛起，开始走向其他地区拓展商业。来自近江各地的商人活跃在不同地区，贩卖自己家乡的特产，最常见的商品包括蚊帐、榻榻米席面和麻布制品。17世纪早期，德川幕府建立，近江商人预见到江户将成为日本的首都，于是马上在那里开店经营。另外，他们还参与了虾夷地（今北海道）的开发。在德川幕府闭关锁国之前，甚至有近江商人远行到了暹罗（今泰国）和安南（今越南）。

斗笠、长斗篷，一根长棒挑着货物行走卖货，这就是近江商人的经典形象。近江商人的事业是从行脚贩货开始的，他们走遍日本各地兜售货物，用最受欢迎的商品建立起稳定的供需关系，再根据订单进货调配。一旦存到了足够资金，他们就会开办店铺，最成功的商人甚至能够在全国各主要城市建立起店铺网络。

近江商人之所以能够如此成功，主要归功于他们具备良好的商业道德。他们行走各方贩卖商品，身为外来者，不免常常遭受质疑，整个社会对于商人的偏见也是他们需要面对的问题。江户时代(1603-1867)，商人处于社会阶层的最底层，因为他们不生产任何实在的东西。为了克服这些障碍，他们依靠诚信买卖换取信任，凭借积极推动贸易地区的实业发展赢得当地社会的接纳。近江商人始终奉行勤劳、节俭和诚信经营，坚守基于该理念的各大行为准则。这些准则代代相传，被视为能给家族生意带来长久兴隆的基石。其中之一是“节俭勤勉”，即商业的长久成功所依靠的是物尽其用，勤奋工作。而“三方共赢”则是近江商人最著名的信条之一，意为任何买卖都应当为卖家、买家和社会三方谋取最大利益。

近江商人的社会奉献精神体现在“阴德善事”（积阴德，做善事）的观念里。他们相信，对于商人来说，不求名誉、分享财富来造福社会是非常重要的。因此，他们往往会为创办学校、修路造桥等公共事业提供资金，或通过向神社、寺庙捐资的形式来为社会做贡献。