近江商人
近江商人は、近江国（現在の滋賀県）の商人で、16世紀から19世紀にかけて全国にその名を轟かせた。遠く離れた都市や町に企業を設立し、その鋭いビジネス感覚と勤勉さ、そして公正な取引の精神で高い評判を得た。また、明治時代の日本経済の近代化にも貢献し、彼らが興した事業の多くは、現在も活躍する企業へと発展していった。
近江の商人たちは、それぞれの地域の商品を取引し、異なる地域で活躍した。八幡商人は、蚊帳や畳表、麻布製品などを扱っていた。江戸にいち早く出店し、蝦夷地（北海道）の発展にも貢献した。シャム（タイ）やアンナン（ベトナム）まで足を伸ばした八幡商人もいた。
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.
Merchants from different areas of Omi Province 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) and also took part in the development of Ezo (Hokkaido). Some Hachiman merchants traveled as far as Siam (now Thailand) and Annam (Vietnam).
