EDO - money changer ryoogaeya

LINK
http://haikutopics.blogspot.jp/2006/06/coin-zeni.html

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ryoogaeya　両替屋 money changer

Money was in the form of gold and silver slabs and small change zeni, kozeni 銭、小銭.
The money changers had to weigh the amount of metal to make sure there was no fraud involved.
The exchange rate was fixed by the Bakufu government.
The money changers charged a small sum for their work.




Some dealers for the townspeople were specialized in coins:
銭両替屋
Many shops were concentraded in 室町　Muromachi and 通町　Toricho.
In the year 1718 there were more than 600 people involved in the business.
A few of them were specialized in changing gold and silver :
hon ryoogaeya 本両替屋
Their clients were the feudal lords and the richest of town.

Their most important tools were a set of scales and weight, 分銅　bundoo.





分銅　bundoo


An Edo period money changer's shop has been reproduced
- source : Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Money Museum -

. Echigoya 越後屋 and Mitsui　三井 .

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. Doing Business in Edo　- 江戸の商売 .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu in Edo .


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