北海道移住と藍業の展開 : 興産社を中心に(2006年度シンポジウム 歴史の転換期における藍)

抄録

Indigo production grew in Tokushima Prefecture which was the biggest indigo producing district in the first half of the Meiji period through the development of the fiber industry. However, due to the inflow of Indian indigo and the rise in the price of manure, indigo work farmers became indigence and the number of people who tried to migrate to Hokkaido began increasing. As a result, from 50,000 to 60,000 people migrated from Tokushima Prefecture during Meiji period. Kousansha was established by ABE Okindo and TAKIMOTO Goro brothers in 1881. Kousansha was the company where farmers from Tokushima, who were skillful in indigo cultivation and processing, settled in the form of a group and manufactured blue indigo. In the latter half of Meiji era, ABE Okindo, who is the foundation person of Kousansha became a typical entrepreneur in Hokkaido. The purpose of this research is to explain the role of which indigo industry has made in the process of the emigration to Hokkaido, which was done in the turning point of the history when modernization and industrialization started. The object of the research is the management history of Kousansha. In the research, "the diary", written for field investigations for the reclaimed land selection which ABE went for in 1881, is analyzed to prove the indication of Mr. YUI Tsunehiko that "many-sided cooperation between the entrepreneurs" relations were seen in the industrialization process of Japan. By this analysis, it became obvious that the ABE's success was caused by forming strong connections between Hachisuka Mochiaki, the former lord and entrepreneurs, from the same prefecture as KONDO Renpei, the manager of Mitsubishi Company. He made use of these relationships well.