Yodoya Tatsugoro

Date of birth and death unknown. A wealthy merchant in Osaka in the early Edo period. His real surname was Okamoto. The first head of Yodoya was called Joan (died 1622), who ran a lumber business during the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, developed Nakanoshima in Osaka, and served as Osaka's chief elder. His descendants branched out and all played an active role as influential Osaka townspeople, and in 1634 (Kan'ei 11) they were given an audience with Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu as distinguished townspeople, but in 1705 (Hoei 2) they were found guilty of living an extravagant lifestyle that was beyond the bounds of townspeople and had all of their assets confiscated. However, there is no one named Tatsugoro in the Okamoto family tree. Tatsugoro is thought to have been the family name that represented the Yodoya family's business. Tsuneyasu's second son, Gento (Koan, died 1643), who succeeded him as the second head priest, also had a talent for business, taking over and selling rice stored by various feudal lords, and the rice market in front of his store became known as Yodoya Rice Market, the precursor to the Dojima Rice Market. He also developed the Utsubo area, opening the Zakoba fish market there, and in 1632 (Kan'ei 9), he obtained the right to distribute thread installments in Osaka, making great contributions to the economic development of Osaka. The third head priest was Gento's adopted son, Kosai (died 1648), the fourth head priest was Kasai's son, Shigeto (died 1697), and the fifth head priest was Shigeto's son, Saburouemon, of whom Tatsugoro was punished. Chikamatsu Monzaemon wrote "Yodogoi Shusse no Taki Nobori" (The Climb of the Yodo Carp and Its Waterfall) based on the Yodoya Punishment Incident.

[Masuo Murai]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。江戸初期の大坂の豪商。本姓は岡本氏。淀屋の初代を常安(じょうあん)（1622没）といい、豊臣(とよとみ)秀吉のころ材木業を営み、大坂の中之島を開発し、大坂の総年寄役を勤めた。その子孫は分立していずれも有力な大坂町人として活躍し、1634年（寛永11）には由緒ある町人として将軍徳川家光(いえみつ)に謁見したりしたが、1705年（宝永2）町人の分に過ぎた奢侈(しゃし)な生活をとがめられて全財産没収の処分を受けた。しかし、岡本氏の系図中には辰五郎を称する人物はいない。辰五郎は、淀屋一家の企業を代表する家号であったと思われる。2代目を継いだ常安の次男言当（个庵(こあん)、1643没）も事業の才に富み、諸大名の蔵米(くらまい)を引き受けて販売し、その店の前の米市は淀屋米市とよばれ、堂島米市の前身となった。また靭(うつぼ)の地を開拓し、ここに雑喉場(ざこば)魚市を開き、1632年（寛永9）には大坂に糸割賦(いとわっぷ)の配分権を獲得するなど、大坂の経済的発展に功績があった。3代は言当の養子箇斎(こさい)（1648没）、4代は箇斎の子重当（1697没）、5代は重当の子三郎右衛門(さぶろううえもん)で、処罰された辰五郎はこの三郎右衛門にあたる。近松門左衛門(もんざえもん)は、この淀屋処罰事件を題材として『淀鯉出世滝徳(よどごいしゅっせのたきのぼり)』を書いた。

［村井益男］

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