Management of the emergent companies related to the fisheries in Hokkaido [Japan] in the Meiji era: The cases of Kitami Shokai and Kitami Kaisha

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Fisheries Economics (Japan) Vol. 49; no. 1
• Main Author: Koiwa, N.(Tokyo Univ. of Marine Science and Technology (Japan))
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: 01.06.2004
• Subjects: COASTAL FISHERIES; EMPRESAS PRIVADAS; ENTREPRISE PRIVEE; GESTION; HISTOIRE; HISTORIA; HISTORY; JAPAN; JAPON; MANAGEMENT; PECHE COTIERE; PESCA COSTERA; PRIVATE ENTERPRISES
• ISSN: 0433-0323

Companies related to the fisheries such as Kitami Shokai and Kitami Company were emergent companies in Hokkaido in the Meiji era. Kitami Shokai's businesses were fisheries and transportation and Kitami Kaisha's businesses were leases of the rights of fisheries. The reason why the activities of these companies had not been given attentions was businesses of these companies were multiple and not concentrate to the fisheries. The themes of the researches related to the fisheries about Meiji Japan were centered on fisheries themselves. In this paper the author tried to make clear the management of these emergent companies. The author also investigated the possibilities to lease the fishing rights and the actual conditions of the company that practiced leasing the rights of the fisheries. Kitami Shokai and Kitami Kaisha were founded in Hokkaido and Kitami Kaisha must have been the successor of Kitami Shokai. The investors of these companies were mainly persons who came from Shimokita area of Aomori prefecture. Until now, Shimokita area was thought to be the place of poverty. The concept that Shimokita area was the place of poverty was not true. The concept was made because there were a few big landowners in Shimokita area. Shimokita was the place of fisheries. Saga family was one of rich families of Kazamaura village in Shimokita area. The wealth of Saga family was invested in the practice of fisheries. Such wealth was also invested in the businesses related to fisheries in Hokkaido. In this paper the author also revealed the accumulation of capital in Shimokita area and the fact that it was one of the sources of investment to the businesses related to the fisheries in Hokkaido.