Chojiya Gin'emon

Chojiya Gin’emon, or Chogin, was one of the most powerful cloth wholesalers in the Meiji period. He was born in Kotagari village in 1777, began his career as a merchant by peddling Omi bleached hemp (sarashi). By the early nineteenth century Chogin expanded his market base by selling to areas in eastern Japan, especially along the Tokaido road leading to Edo. In 1830 he opened a store in Edo and was tremendously successful in commerce thereafter. Chogin was successful because he recognized growing consumer demand for lower-priced textiles, such as silk/cotton blends, less ornate silks, and cotton fabrics. Thus, from a small rural peddler Chogin became one of the most successful Edo wholesalers.