Former Site of the Kaisho
(Shogunate Trade Office)会所跡

Former Site of Samani Kaisho, Origin of the Placename "Kaisho-machi"

「会所町」という地名を残した様似会所跡

In the Edo period, Matsumae Domain was the effective ruler of Hokkaido.
At the time, rice could not be grown in Hokkaido, so the settlers from Matsumae made a living by trading goods produced in Ezo (the former name of Hokkaido) with Honshu, the main island of Japan.

江戸時代、実質的に北海道を治めていた松前藩。
当時、北海道ではお米がとれなかったため、蝦夷地でとれる産物で本州との交易を行い、生計を立てていました。

Kaisho-machi viewed from Cape Enrumu (Date unknown)

エンルム岬からみる会所町（年代不明）

Cargo collection points were called "Unjosho".
As time passed, the Edo Shogunate assumed direct control of Eastern Ezo (the southern half of Hokkaido) in place of Matsumae Domain, driven by a sense of urgency due to Russia's southward expansion.
The Unjosho were renamed "Kaisho" (Trade Offices), and a town formed around Shamani (Samani) Kaisho, where trade with the Ainu people, as well as others, took place.

産物の集荷場は「運上所」と呼ばれていました。
その後、ロシアの南下に危機感を持った江戸幕府は、松前藩に代わり東蝦夷地（北海道の南半分）を直接支配。
運上所は「会所」と改められ、シャマニ（様似）会所を中心に市街が形成され、アイヌ民族との交易が行われました。

In the latter half of the Edo period, distribution of goods by ship became full-scale, and products from Samani Kaisho such as kelp, funori (marine glue), dried cod, and fish oil were transported across Japan by Kitamae ships.

江戸時代後半には船による商品物流が本格化し、シャマニ会所の産物である昆布やふのり、干しタラ、魚油なども北前船によって全国へ運ばれました。

The Kaisho depicted in "View of Samani, Eastern Ezo", Samani Folk Museum Collection

「東蝦夷シャマニ之景」に描かれた会所／様似郷土館所蔵

Former Kaisho (Showa 33/1958), Samani Folk Museum Collection

旧会所（昭和33年）／様似郷土館所蔵

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