Stock buddies - Kabunakama

Japanese: 株仲間 - かぶなかま

An exclusive trade association formed by merchants and industrialists during the Edo period.

[Masuo Murai]

Established

The Edo Shogunate initially inherited the previous era's Rakuza policy, and prohibited any arrangements between guilds or associations, except for those of gold and silver guilds, red guilds, and pawnbrokers, secondhand clothing dealers, and antique dealers, who were closely related to the crackdown on thieves. However, it is clear that associations were actually organized, as evidenced by the Edo Town Ordinances of 1648 (Keian 1) and 1657 (Meireki 3) and the circumstances surrounding the formation of the Tokumi Wholesalers Association, and the Shogunate tacitly accepted this. In other words, they were "internal associations." During the Kyoho Reforms, the Shogunate changed its previous policy, forcing merchants and industrialists to form associations, officially recognizing them and allowing them to monopolize their business, and thus the stock associations were established. The Order for the Formation of Stock Associations in 1721 (Kyoho 6) and 1726 was intended to enforce the ban on luxury goods and lower prices through the organization of such stock associations. Later, during the so-called Tanuma era, which spanned the Meiwa, An'ei, and Tenmei periods (1764-1789), a wide range of stock associations were formed. This was aimed at controlling the expansion of commodity production and the intensification of commodity distribution, which was rapidly developing mainly in the Kinai region at the time, through merchant associations, while at the same time increasing the shogunate's revenue by collecting myoga-kin (contributions) from the stock associations.

[Masuo Murai]

Organization and Functions

The number of members of a stock association was limited, and was recorded in a register. It was difficult for new members to join, and those who acquired shares through buying, selling, or transferring were allowed to join after going through certain procedures. Each association had officers called Gyoji, Toshiyori, Kimoiri, etc., who took turns handling the affairs of the association on a monthly or annual basis.

The most important function of the stock nakama was its monopoly function, which prohibited other merchants from operating the same business, and anyone who violated this rule was sued by the government. In exchange for this business monopoly, members were required to pay taxes and transportation fees. Competition was prohibited within the nakama, so agreements were made on product prices and profits (commissions and labor fees for craftsmen). To maintain credibility, agreements were also made on product inspection, settling on weights and measures, and packaging.

[Masuo Murai]

dissolution

Kabu nakama played a major role as a commercial organization in the Edo period, but as the distribution of goods increased, their monopoly function came to be seen as hindering smooth distribution, and they were ordered to be dissolved in the Tenpo Reforms of 1841 (Tenpo 12). However, as this resulted in disorder among merchants and prices not falling, an order to reinstate them was issued in 1851 (Kaei 4), and they were reinstated, but their monopoly rights were greatly restricted. They continued to exist for a while after the Meiji Restoration, but were abolished in various places around 1871-72 (Meiji 4-5), and businesses were allowed to operate freely. This caused confusion in trade, but these were overcome by forming new trade associations.

[Masuo Murai]

"A Study of Stock Companies" by Miyamoto Mataji (1938, Yuhikaku)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

江戸時代に商工業者が結成した独占的な同業組合。

［村井益男］

成立

江戸幕府は、当初は前代の楽座(らくざ)政策を受け継ぎ、金・銀座や朱座、盗賊取締りと関係の深い質屋・古着屋・古道具屋などの仲間を除いて、座や仲間の申合せを禁じた。しかし実際には仲間が組織されていたことは1648年（慶安1）、57年（明暦3）の江戸町触(まちぶれ)や十組(とくみ)問屋仲間の結成の事情などによって明らかであり、幕府もこれを黙認していた。すなわち「内分の仲間」である。享保(きょうほう)の改革の過程において、幕府は従来の方針を転換し、商工業者に仲間を結成させ、これを公認してその営業の独占を認めることにし、ここに株仲間が成立した。1721年（享保6）、26年の株仲間結成令は、このような株仲間の組織を通じて、奢侈(しゃし)品禁止令の励行、物価の引下げを期待したものである。その後、明和(めいわ)・安永(あんえい)・天明(てんめい)期（1764～89）のいわゆる田沼時代に広範囲な株仲間の結成がみられた。これは、当時畿内(きない)を中心に急激に発展しつつあった商品生産の拡大、商品流通の活発化を、商人仲間を通じて統制すると同時に、株仲間からの冥加(みょうが)金徴収による幕府収入の増加をねらったものであった。

［村井益男］

組織・機能

株仲間の構成員数は限定され、仲間帳に記載された。新規の加入は困難で、売買、譲渡などで株を取得した者は、一定の手続を経て加入が許された。仲間には行事、年寄、肝煎(きもいり)などとよばれる役員が置かれ、月番、年番など交代制で仲間内の事務処理にあたった。

　株仲間のもっとも重要な機能は、仲間以外の商人の同種営業を禁ずる独占機能で、これを侵害する者は官に訴えた。この営業独占を保障される代償として冥加金、運上(うんじょう)金などを上納した。仲間内では競争が禁ぜられ、そのため商品価格の協定、利潤（口銭・職人の場合は手間賃）の公定なども行われた。信用保持のため商品検査、度量衡の一定、包装の協定なども行われた。

［村井益男］

解散

株仲間は、江戸時代の商業機構として大きな役割を果たしたが、商品流通の増大につれて、その独占機能が円滑な流通を阻害するとみられるようになり、1841年（天保12）天保(てんぽう)の改革において解散を命じられた。しかしこの結果、商人の秩序が乱れ、物価も下がらなかったので、1851年（嘉永4）再興令が発せられ復活したが、独占権は大幅に制限された。明治維新後もしばらく存続したが、1871、72年（明治4、5）ごろには各地で廃止され、営業自由となった。これに伴う取引上の混乱も生じたが、これらは新しい同業組合を結成して乗り越えた。

［村井益男］

『宮本又次著『株仲間の研究』（1938・有斐閣）』

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