Hikotaro Omura

Japanese: 大村彦太郎 - おおむらひこたろう

1636‐89 (Kan'ei 13‐Genroku 2)
A merchant in the early Edo period. Born in Nagahama, Omi Province. His given name was Doji, and Hikotaro was his nickname. He opened Shirokiya in Kyoto in 1652 (Keian 5), initially dealing in lumber, but in 1662 (Kanbun 2) he opened a haberdashery in Edo Nihonbashi, and then dealt in kimono and cotton goods, eventually becoming a large kimono wholesaler. The main store, under his master's control, was in Kyoto, and the Edo store was run by servants from Kamigata, including Omi. Shirokiya transformed into a department store in the late Meiji period. [Hayashi Reiko]

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

1636‐89(寛永13‐元禄2)
江戸前期の商人。近江国長浜の生れ。名は道慈，彦太郎は通称。京都で1652年(慶安5)に白木屋を開店，初めは材木を扱うが，62年(寛文2)に江戸日本橋に小間物店を設け，さらに呉服･木綿類を扱い，呉服問屋として大をなすに至った。主人の所在する本店は京都に置き，江戸店は近江など上方（かみがた）出身の奉公人によって運営させた。白木屋は明治後期以降百貨店に変化していった。【林玲子】

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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