About

Merchant houses in Edo were commercial organizations that supported the Edo economy through thorough rationalism and a unique status system. While Osaka merchants were characterized by "rationality and pragmatism," Edo merchants were distinguished by their emphasis on "duty, humanity, and style (iki)," developing businesses tailored to the samurai society. This is Azumaya, the largest merchant house in Edo. Guest is the young master here. Edo merchant houses had a strict seniority and merit-based promotion system, starting from apprentices and aiming for the top executive (head clerk). Apprentice (Detchi) / Shop Boy: Chores such as cleaning the shop, running errands, and learning literacy and the abacus. Ages 10 to 16. Clerk (Tedai): The core of practical business, including purchasing, sales, customer service, and bookkeeping. Age 16 to early 30s. Head Clerk (Banto): The chief executive responsible for shop management, financial control, and supervising clerks and apprentices. Attainable from the mid-30s. Branching Out (Noren-wake): Being allowed to become independent and use a character from the master's name in recognition of loyalty and achievement. Attainable after serving as a head clerk for many years. Customs: Labor was nearly year-round, with only two holidays a year (Yabuiri) on January 16th and July 16th. Strict grooming: Promotion to clerk occurred upon the "Genpuku" (coming-of-age) ceremony where the forelocks were cut, and clothing changed from hemp to cotton. Prohibition of commuting: In principle, employees lived in the shop until becoming a head clerk, with no freedom in their private lives. Rules of the Great Shops (Omise): To prepare for fires, shops were built with thick-walled "Dozo-zukuri" (earthen storehouse style), and in the event of a fire, the customer ledger (Daikoku-cho) was thrown into a well to protect it.