Takadaya Kahei
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Takadaya Kahei | |
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高田屋 嘉兵衛 | |
Hakodate, Hokkaido , Japan | |
| Occupation | Merchant |
Takadaya Kahei (高田屋嘉兵衛) was a Japanese merchant credited with transforming the trading outpost of
Takadaya Kahei was born to a farming family, but left his birthplace when was 13, to work in
Honshū. He later developed trading routes to the Kuril Islands and operated many fisheries around Nemuro
, a town on Hokkaidō's east coast. Takadaya is also known for his services in developing Hakodate. He repaired streets, cultivated the land and forested trees for lumber. After a destructive fire in 1806 he provided food, clothing and new housing for victims of the disaster. He also paid for workmen from Osaka to sink new wells and donated water pumps for fire fighting.
He acquired a status as one of the most famous merchants in the era for his role in the
Kamchatka
for several months, his release finally secured through diplomacy. During his imprisonment he learned the Russian language and later worked with Vasily Golovnin to settle the Kuril Islands territorial border between the two countries.
At the age of 50, Takadaya returned to his birthplace of Awaji Island. He died in 1827.
A festival is held in Hakodate every year in late July to commemorate Takadaya Kahei.[3]
References
- ^ (in Japanese) Biography of Takadaya Kahei, loaded June 29, 2007
- ^ Excerpts from Zapiski flota, Golovnin, V. M., pub. 1816, loaded 29 June 2007
- ^ Takadaya Kahei Festival Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine, City of Hakodate, loaded 29 June 2011
External links
- Brief biography of Takadaya Kahei
- (in Japanese) Biography of Takadaya Kahei
- Information about Takadaya Kahei monuments in Hakodate
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