Préfecture

réf. 11073 — Yamagata Prefecture: 1819-68. Ushu province today's Yamagata Prefecture has a long tradition of making sake. The region has abundant fresh water and the climate is well-suited for growing sake rice. This archive of 22 manuscript reports was produced for local tax collectors by two sake manufacturers in Higashine village Murayama Ushu province: GenshirÅ æºå››éƒŽ 20 reports and Hachizaemon 八左衛門 two reports. Neither is in business today. Sake was a heavily regulated industry in Edo Japan and a major source of tax revenue. The shogunate also controlled production levels in order to conserve rice in times of shortage and to regulate prices. The government also required manufacturers to brew only in winter time to improve quality. These official reports contain statements of amounts of sake-making rice used and production levels of sake by number of barrels. One report was prepared in 1819 one in the 1820s five in the 1830s four in the 1840s two in the 1850s and nine in the 1860s. Most of the reports consist of four folding leaves of text. In fine condition. The archive's original wrapper is present. unknown books