On Brown-Sugar Market Control by Sugar Merchants in Modern Okinawa(Symposium-2007- On Brown-Sugar Market Control by Sugar Merchants in Modern Okinawa)

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  • 近代沖縄における糖商資本による黒糖流通支配について(2007年度シンポジウム 近代沖縄農業史の再検討)
  • 近代沖縄における糖商資本による黒糖流通支配について
  • キンダイ オキナワ ニ オケル トウショウ シホン ニ ヨル コクトウ リュウツウ シハイ ニ ツイテ

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Brown Sugar had been produced in Okinawa since the early Edo period. It was handed over by the peasantry as payment of their feudal land taxes. Increasing domestic demand for brown sugar following the Meiji Reformation led to expanded production and it became a key commercial product of Okinawa Prefecture. The purpose of this paper is to syudy the distribution system as well as the role played by sugar merchants in the expansion of the market and the factors that contiributed to its end - from 1890's to 1930' s-. The basic points made are as follows: 1) The distribution system of Okinawan brown sugar comprised seven stages ; production by the peasantry ; brokers in Naha ; the consignor in Naha : the consignee in Osaka, brokers in Osaka , and thence to retailers and consumers. However the dominat party had, since the mid Edo period, been made up of Osaka sugar merchants, who were known as the Association of Eleven (juichikumi 11組). 2) By various means the Association of Eleven maintained monopolies over demand opposite to brokers in Okinawa, and over supply opposite to retailers in consumer areas, thus responding to increase in production by distributional means. 3) However, new developments in transport, communications and financial services, and the founding of agricultural cooperatives in Okinawa where the sugar was produced led to advances in direct shipment from Okinawa to consumer areas, resulting in the collaps of the seven-stage distribution system and the dssolution of the Association of Eleven.

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