紀要論文

明治期における日本商社の豪州進出

A Study of Japanese Trading Companies in Australia in the Meiji Period

jpn

00229741

https://doi.org/10.15002/00001957

法政大学経済学部学会

73

4

295

314

2006-03-03

Version of Record

The purpose of this article is to trace the development of Japanese trading companies in Australia in the Meiji Period. F. Kanematsu Trading Company was the first Japanese-based trading company to operate its branch office in Australia. It was established in Kobe in 1889, with a signboard "Kanematsu Fusajiro Shoten for the Japan-Australia Trade". The Sydney office of F. Kanematsu Trading Company was opened in April, 1890. Kanematsu foresaw an increase in the demand for wool and was engaged on importing it directly from Australia. After the Sino-Japanese War (1893-1894) F. Kanematsu Trading Company was interested in developing the Japan-China trade and opened its branch office in Shanghai. The Company suffered great losses due to the failure in speculative trade with China. The Japan-Australia trade became the main business of the Company again after the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). The military demand for woolen cloth occasioned by the Russo-Japanese War elevated the demand for imported raw wool. Three major Japanese trading companies--Mitsui Bussan, Okura, and Takashimaya-Iida opened branch offices in Sydney after the Russo-Japanese War. The market opportunities for Japanese trading companies expanded rapidly during the period of the First World War. Other Japanese trading companies―Mitsubishi Shoji, Nihon Menka and others―opened branch offices in Australia at the beginning of 1920's. The competition among Japanese trading companiesbecame severe. It is impressive that Mitsui Bussan surpassed F. Kanematsu (Australia) Ltd. at the volume of buying Australian Wool in the mid 1920's.

Article

AN00071028