Trading company - Tsuushokaisha

It was a semi-public joint-stock company established and operated by the government in 1869 (Meiji 2) together with the Exchange Company in order to control commerce and finance nationwide, under the management of the Trade Office, which was established in open ports for the purpose of managing foreign trade. The Trade Company was established in the three major cities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as in open ports such as Yokohama and Kobe, and was responsible for promoting domestic and international commerce and trade, acting as intermediary for transactions, and shipping. It was run together with the Exchange Company by government merchants such as Mitsui, Ono, and Shimada, who were purveyors to the former shogunate. Initially, it performed well, but when the Trade Office was abolished in 1871 due in part to protests from foreign countries promoting free trade, the company was dissolved as well.

[Hiromi Ishizuka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

外国貿易を管理する目的で開港場に開設された通商司の管理のもとに、1869年（明治2）政府が全国の商業・金融を統制するため、為替(かわせ)会社とともに設立、運営した半官半民の株式会社。通商会社は、東京、京都、大阪の三都や横浜、神戸などの開港場に設けられ、内外の商業・貿易の振興、取引の仲介、海運などを担当した。為替会社とあわせて、旧幕府の御用商人であった三井、小野、島田などの政商がその運営にあたった。当初は営業成績がよかったが、71年に通商司が、自由貿易を進める諸外国から抗議を受けたこともあって廃止されると、同社も解散した。

［石塚裕道］

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