JAPAN

Banknote

Hansatsu

Harimanokuni

Kasai-gun

"Nakano-village Note"

Silver 1 Momme

(1863)

FRONT

・米切手（Rice note）

・銭壱匁（1 Momme）

BACK

・表書の通此切手を以相渡可申候

（This note may be redeemed in accordance with the amount stated on the front）

・引替所（Exchange Office）

・加西郡（Kasai-gun）

・中野村（Nakano-mura）

・文久三年六月（June , Bunkyu 3, 1863）

・三宅弥太夫（Miyake Yatayu, guarantor of this note）

🌾 To prevent counterfeiting, the top of the bill is dyed blue.

🌾 Kasai District (Kasai-gun) in the Edo Period 🌾 

1. Overview

　Kasai District was located in the northern-central part of Harima Province, corresponding to present-day Kasai City in Hyōgo Prefecture and parts of Katō City and Taka Town.

Throughout the Edo period, Kasai developed as a peaceful rural district with agriculture as its economic foundation.

________________________________________

2. Feudal Lords and Administrative Structure

　During the Edo period, Kasai District was not under the unified control of a single domain. Instead, it consisted of mixed territories (“aikyūchi”) governed by several domains and hatamoto (direct retainers of the shogun).

🌾 Main governing authorities:

• The Himeji Domain (ruled by the Sakai and Sakakibara clans)

• The Odawara Domain (under the Ōkubo clan during certain periods)

• Shogunate territory (tenryō)

• Lands held by hatamoto (shogunal retainers)

　These jurisdictions were intermingled, and it was not uncommon for villages to pay taxes to different lords depending on their assigned domain.

________________________________________

3. Industry and Economy

　Agriculture formed the backbone of Kasai’s economy, and the district was long known as the “land of fertile fields.”

　Major crops included rice, barley, soybeans, and cotton.

　The area was also renowned for its extensive irrigation pond (tameike) systems, earning it the nickname “the land of reservoirs.” Notable examples include Maruyama Pond and Gongen Pond.

　In addition to farming, the production of cotton and oil was significant.

　Rural merchants (zaigō shōnin) shipped these goods to Himeji and Osaka, contributing to the growth of the local economy.

________________________________________

4. Transportation and Culture

　Several important routes passed through Kasai District, including the Hōjō Road and the route connecting Himeji and Sasayama, making it a key area for the transportation of goods.

　The district’s main settlement was Hōjō Town (present-day Hōjō-chō, Kasai City), which flourished as a rural market town during the Edo period, with temples, markets, and merchants forming its economic core.

　In terms of education and religion, terakoya (temple schools) became widespread, and temples of Jōdo Shinshū, Tendai, and Shingon Buddhism played important roles in supporting the cultural and spiritual life of the region.

🌾 Where Were Hansatsu (Domain Notes) Printed? 🌾 

❶ Primary Printing Locations

　Hansatsu were primarily printed in official printing facilities operated directly by each domain.

　These included:

• The domain’s official printing workshop (goyō hanmoku-ba)

• Offices such as the finance bureau (kanjōsho) or the domain’s exchange office (satsuba)

• Designated woodblock carvers and printers under direct domain supervision

　The reason was straightforward: to prevent counterfeiting and to maintain strict control over the issuance of currency-like notes.

________________________________________

❷ Use of Local Craftsmen

　In cases where:

• the domain lacked skilled woodblock artisans, or

• a large-volume issuance was required,

the domain sometimes commissioned approved local craftsmen (goyō woodblock carvers).

Even then, the domain rigorously controlled:

• the handling and storage of woodblocks,

• the amount of paper supplied, and

• verification of the exact number of notes printed.

________________________________________

❸ Village and District Notes

　For village-issued or district-issued notes (mura-satsu, gun-satsu),

the printing was often carried out by local woodblock artisans under the supervision of village officials.

________________________________________

Were Some Hansatsu Printed Outside the Domain?

　Yes—although relatively rare, some domains did outsource printing to other regions under special circumstances.

This occurred when:

1. Skilled artisans were unavailable inside the domain, or

2. Special anti-counterfeit techniques were required, or

3. A disaster or emergency made in-domain printing temporarily impossible.

　In such cases, printing might be entrusted to highly skilled craftsmen in major urban centers such as Kyoto, Osaka, or Edo.

　However, strict controls were always imposed, and domain officials routinely supervised the entire printing process to prevent misuse or leakage of woodblocks.

________________________________________

Summary

　Hansatsu were typically produced:

• in domain-operated printing facilities,

• sometimes by designated local craftsmen,

• and, in limited cases, by specialized artisans in other regions, always under strict supervision.

　Their production was tightly controlled because hansatsu functioned as a form of credit currency, making security and authenticity essential.

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 banknote pictured is the banknote you will receive

 

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

 

Please look at the pictures and grade for yourself

We have not cleaned or altered coins & banknotes