JAPAN

Antique

"Kansatsu"

Oginohama Village

Wooden Fishery License Tag

( -1910)

FRONT

・第三号（No. 3）

・荻濱地村（Oginohama Village）

・宮城県漁業組合証書（Certificate of the Miyagi Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative Association）

・牡鹿郡萩浜村侍浜戸主（Samuraihama Head of Household, Hagihama Village）

・杉浦晋太郎（Sugiura Shintarō）

・杉浦晋蔵（Sugiura Shinzō）

BACK

・宮城県漁業組合証（Certificate of the Miyagi Prefectural Fisheries Cooperative Association）

・It is presumed to have been issued during the Meiji era.

【What is a Kansatsu (License Tag)?】

　A kansatsu (鑑札) was a type of official license tag, permit, or identification plaque used in Japan from the Edo period through the modern era.

　They were issued in various forms, including wooden tags, paper certificates, and metal plaques, and served as official proof of authorization for specific occupations, businesses, fisheries, transportation, or ownership rights.

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Basic Functions

　Kansatsu mainly served the following purposes:

• To show official authorization 

• To manage taxation and business rights 

• To confirm personal identity 

• To prevent unlicensed business activities 

• To maintain governmental control and supervision 

　In modern terms, they were similar to:

• Business licenses 

• Fishing permits 

• Identification cards 

• Registration certificates 

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Main Types of Kansatsu

1. Fishing License Tags

　License tags issued to fishermen.

Characteristics:

• Often made of wood 

• Included fishing grounds or fishing methods 

• Contained village names, household heads’ names, and registration numbers 

• Different types existed for seaweed harvesting, oyster gathering, and other marine activities 

　The wooden tag you showed is likely related to this category.

Typical inscriptions included:

• “Fishery” 

• “Sea Area” 

• “Seaweed Industry” 

• Name of the household head 

• Name of the district office 

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2. Commercial License Tags

　Issued to merchants, peddlers, entertainers, and various tradespeople.

Examples:

• Antique dealers 

• Traveling merchants 

• Medicine sellers 

• Fish vendors 

• Performers and entertainers 

　Operating without a license was sometimes prohibited.

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3. Dog Registration Tags

　One of the best-known modern examples.

　These still exist today as proof of dog registration.

Purposes:

• Rabies prevention 

• Owner identification 

• Registration management 

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4. License Tags for Courtesans and Entertainers

　During the Edo period, licensing systems also existed for people involved in entertainment districts and performing arts.

Purposes included:

• Proof of officially approved business activity 

• Identity management 

• Tax collection 

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Shapes and Materials

Wooden Tags

The most common type.

Characteristics:

• Lightweight 

• Inexpensive 

• Sometimes worn around the neck 

• Written with ink or marked by branding 

Especially common in fishing-related use.

Metal Tags

Made from brass, copper, iron, and other metals.

Used when durability was required.

Paper Certificates

Used for temporary permits or simplified authorization documents.

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Typical Information Recorded

　Kansatsu generally included the following information:

• Registration number 

• Region or jurisdiction 

• Village name 

• Personal name 

• Occupation or trade 

• Details of the permit 

• Issuing authority 

• Date of issue 

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Historical Background

　The Tokugawa shogunate and regional domains established kansatsu systems in order to regulate commerce and fisheries.

　Important purposes included:

• Preventing disputes over fishing grounds 

• Tax collection 

• Preventing illegal fishing 

• Population management 

　During the Meiji period, these systems gradually evolved into more modern administrative systems managed by district offices and prefectural governments.

International shipping

We use the Japan post Service (Closed on Saturdays, Sundays)

 

Takes 25-45 days (Mail with tracking number & insurance)

 

Payment policy  

Please make a payment within 3 days, otherwise automatically unpaid case will be opened

As always, the item pictured is the item you will receive

 

We do our best to describe the item up for bid in our amateur opinion

 

Please look at the pictures and grade for yourself

We have not cleaned or altered coins & banknotes