Nineteenth-Century Distribution of Dried Bonito in the Satsuma-bōnotsu Region

This paper explores distribution in 19th-century Satsuma-bōnotsu, and specificallythat of dried bonito, a special product of the region. Using the sales of dried bonito as anopportunity, Bōnotsu established close ties throughout Kyushu and Osaka from whichthey reaped economic profits. In Osaka, dried bonito was considered as valuablemerchandise, and thus great importance was placed on supplies from the site ofproduction. Osaka and Bōnotsu both experienced groundbreaking economic growthfrom1840 to 1870. These focal points are then considered with an analysis of historical records