抄録
As is generally known, Japan opened three ports to foreign vessels in 1859. As a result, Japanese raw silk Industry made great progress. At the same time, this change of Japan's foreign policy brought about qualitative change of raw silk which was chiefly produced. There was great demand for small thread in overseas markets. In order to meet this demand, Japanese raw silk producers had to improve the efficiency of their work further. This effort led to the most efficient raw silk-reeling technique in those days, that is, zaguri-method. This method came into wide use rapidly. It was this zaguri-method that enabled Japanese producers to improve and root European raw silk-reeling technique to meet Japanese environment. Zaguri-method had already been known as an efficient technique in the early 19th century, and introduced in the particular areas. But it had never been adopted extensively and continuously before 1859. For, the quality produced by zaguri-method was inferior to that by tebiki-method which was prevalent in those days. Silk weavers and raw silk merchants desired that the use of zaguri-method should be put restrictions on in the places of raw silk production. It appears to me that their desire had been fulfilled at one time. It was not until Japan opened ports in 1859 that zaguri-method was adopted extensively. There was little severe requirement from overseas markets for raw silk quality at the term between 1859 and approximately 1868. It is believed that this moderate requirement caused rapid propagation of zaguri-method. The aim of this paper is to investigate that the changeover from home to overseas markets brought about not only the modification of raw silk-reeling technique, but also reconversion of the character in Japanese raw silk industry itself.
