Sotaro Araki

A Nagasaki red seal ship trader active in the early Edo period. Born in Kumamoto, Higo Province. His name was Kazukiyo, commonly known as Soemon. He is said to have been of samurai descent. He is said to be one of the so-called "Nine Ships" including Suetsugu Heizo, who received a red seal letter from Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1592 (Bunroku 1). There are records of red seal letters being issued to him, addressed to Siam (Thailand) in 1606 (Keicho 11), to Kochi, Annam (Vietnam) in 1610, and several times to Kochi between 1619 (Genna 5) and 1632 (Kan'ei 9). After that, he flew a ship's flag with the Dutch East India Company's mark upside down, worked on a merchant ship himself, and gained the trust of the Nguyen clan, a relative of the King of Annam, and married his daughter. The Araki family moved to Nagasaki when Japan closed its borders to the outside world, and later served as the Otona-yaku (master of ceremonies) of Nishitsuki-machi, Nagasaki, from 1690 (Genroku 3).

[Numata Satoshi]

"Kawashima Genjiro, 'The History of Trade with Red Seals' (1921, Naigai Publishing)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸初期に活躍した長崎の朱印船貿易家。肥後国熊本生まれ。名は一清(かずきよ)、通称惣右衛門(そうえもん)。武士の出という。1592年（文禄1）豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉から朱印状の交付を受けた末次平蔵(すえつぐへいぞう)らいわゆる九艘(そう)船の一人といわれる。1606年（慶長11）に暹羅(シャム)国（タイ）あて、1610年安南(アンナン)国（ベトナム）交趾(こうち)あて、1619年（元和5）から1632年（寛永9）の間には数回交趾あての、彼に対する朱印状交付が記録されている。その後は、オランダ東インド会社のマークを逆さにした船旗をたて、自ら商船に乗り組んで活動し、安南国王の外戚阮(がいせきげん)氏の信頼を得てその娘を妻とした。荒木家は鎖国に際して長崎に移住し、のち1690年（元禄3）以後は長崎西築町の乙名(おとな)役を務めた。

［沼田　哲］

『川島元次郎『朱印船貿易史』（1921・内外出版社）』

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