JAPAN

Banknote

hansatsu

"Tokushima Domain Note"

1 Momme

(1731)

FRONT

・銀見極（Guaranteed and redeemable in silver）

・壹匁（1 momme）

・阿波淡路銀札（Awa–Awaji silver note）

・魚屋 寺沢（Uoya and Terasawa, guarantors of this note）

🏯 Tokushima Domain (Awa Domain) 🏯

Basic Information

• Name: Tokushima Domain (also called Awa Domain)

• Ruling Family: The Hachisuka clan (tozama, or “outside” lords)

• Castle Town: Tokushima Castle

• Stipend: Approximately 257,000 koku

• Territory: Most of today’s Tokushima Prefecture and, at times, Awaji Island

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Historical Background

◆ Establishment and Governance

　The Tokushima Domain was ruled by the Hachisuka clan for the entire Edo period.

　The family originally received control of Awa Province in the late 1500s under Toyotomi Hideyoshi. After the Battle of Sekigahara (1600), Hachisuka Iemasa became the official daimyō of Tokushima.

　For roughly 270 years, the Hachisuka clan governed the region without interruption.

　Although the Hachisuka were technically tozama daimyō, their relationship with the Tokugawa shogunate was relatively stable. The location of Tokushima, near the Naruto Strait, also made it strategically important for maritime routes in western Japan.

◆ Geography and Administration

　The domain included:

• the fertile Tokushima Plain along the Yoshino River,

• mountainous forested areas, and

• a long coastline facing both the Seto Inland Sea and the Kii Channel.

　This diverse geography shaped many of the domain’s industries.

　Tokushima also relied heavily on local products to stabilize its finances, especially in the mid–late Edo period when many domains experienced budget shortages.

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Major Industries

◆ 1. Indigo Production (Awa Indigo)

Indigo was the most important industry in the Tokushima Domain.

　The region produced Awa Indigo, regarded as one of the highest-quality indigo dyes in Japan. Indigo merchants from Tokushima built extensive trade networks that reached Edo, Kyoto, and Osaka.

　This industry generated enormous revenue and became the economic backbone of the domain.

◆ 2. Wasanbon Sugar

　A refined traditional sugar known as wasanbon was another famous local product.

　It is made using a labor-intensive process and is prized for its delicate flavor and fine texture. Wasanbon was widely used by confectioners in Kyoto and Osaka.

◆ 3. Salt Production

　Salt fields were developed along the coastal areas, especially near Naruto.

　Salt was an important commodity for both local use and regional trade.

◆ 4. Forestry and Timber Trade

　Forests in the mountainous areas provided a steady supply of timber.

　Logs were transported down the Yoshino River and used for shipbuilding and construction.

◆ 5. Fishing and Marine Products

　The waters near the Naruto Strait are rich fishing grounds.

　Sea bream and other marine products supported both local consumption and regional markets.

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Culture and Society

• Tokushima is well known for the Awa Odori, a lively traditional dance festival still held today.

• Merchant groups associated with indigo, sugar, and other crafts developed strong local business communities.

• The domain operated a school called Keikokan, which provided education for samurai-class children.

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Domain Bills (Hansatsu)

　Tokushima issued its own domain paper money several times during the Edo period.

　Thanks to the strong economic base created by Awa Indigo, Tokushima’s hansatsu generally enjoyed a relatively high level of trust in circulation.

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Late Edo Period

　During the final years of the shogunate, internal factions formed between supporters of the shogunate and supporters of the imperial court.

　Ultimately, Tokushima sided with the new Meiji government, and after the Meiji Restoration and the abolition of the domains, it became part of modern Tokushima Prefecture.

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