Kadoya Family Trade-Related Documents: A Window into Japan's Age of Maritime Exploration

In the early 17th century, when Japan's vermilion seal ships sailed across the South China Sea to Southeast Asian ports, a merchant family from the small port town of Ōminato in Ise Province played a pivotal role in this golden age of overseas trade. The Kadoya family, whose trade-related documents are now designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan, left behind an extraordinary collection of artifacts that illuminate this fascinating chapter of Japanese history when merchants and adventurers connected Japan with the wider world.

The Kadoya Family: From Local Merchants to International Traders

The Kadoya family's origins trace back to Matsumoto in Shinano Province, but they established themselves as successful shipping merchants in Ōminato, a historic port town in Ise Province (present-day Ise City, Mie Prefecture). This port had served as the outer harbor for Ise Grand Shrine since ancient times, making it a natural hub for maritime commerce.

The family's fortunes changed dramatically during the tumultuous final years of the Warring States period. In 1582, during the chaos following the Honnō-ji Incident when Oda Nobunaga was assassinated, Tokugawa Ieyasu found himself stranded far from his home territory. The Kadoya family's founder, Shichirōjirō Hidemochi, helped Ieyasu escape from Sakai to Mikawa Province by ship—an act of loyalty that earned the family tremendous privileges.

Grateful for this assistance, Ieyasu granted the Kadoya family special trading rights including exemption from various port taxes throughout his domains. These privileges allowed the family to expand their operations from domestic coastal shipping to international vermilion seal ship trade.

The Collection: Four Types of Precious Historical Materials

The Kadoya Family Trade-Related Documents comprise four distinct categories of materials, each offering unique insights into early modern Japanese maritime activities. These eleven items were purchased together by Ise Jingu (Ise Grand Shrine) in 1957 and are now preserved at the Jingu Chokokan Museum.

The Asian Navigation Chart: A Parchment Map of Trade Routes

Perhaps the most visually striking item in the collection is the Asian Navigation Chart (Ajia Kōkaizu), a remarkable portolan-style sea chart painted on parchment. The entire surface is coated with gofun (shell white powder) and then meticulously drawn with ink and other pigments to create a detailed maritime chart of Asian waters.

This chart was created in the early Edo period, drawing upon European portolan chart traditions. Portuguese and Spanish navigators had developed sophisticated maritime mapping techniques, and Japanese merchants adapted these methods for their own voyages to Southeast Asia. The chart would have guided Kadoya ships through the treacherous waters between Japan and trading ports in places like Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

The Vermilion Seal Flag: Symbol of Shogunal Authority

The Goshuin-ki (Vermilion Seal Flag) is a single piece of plain-woven cloth that bears witness to the Kadoya family's official trading privileges. At its center is the Kadoya family crest—three rice cakes arranged in a circle—with the characters for "Go," "Shu," and "In" (meaning "Vermilion Seal") inscribed within each cake.

This flag was actually flown aboard Kadoya vermilion seal ships during their voyages, serving as visible proof of their authorization from the Tokugawa shogunate. Vermilion seal ships carrying such flags were entitled to protection and preferential treatment at foreign ports, as the seal represented the authority of Japan's ruling government.

The Ōminato Kadoya Family Banner

The Ōminato Kadoyake Hata (Ōminato Kadoya Family Banner) is made from two widths of plain-woven cotton sewn together. The upper portion bears the indigo-dyed characters "Ōminato / Kadoya," while below them appears the family crest in black with three vermilion-colored rice cakes.

This banner was used to identify Kadoya ships during their voyages, serving as the family's commercial identity across the seas. It represents the pride and reputation the Kadoya family had built as one of Japan's prominent maritime trading houses.

The Kadoya Family Documents: Chronicles of Trade and Family History

The Kadoyake Monjo (Kadoya Family Documents) consist of seven scrolls and one booklet containing correspondence and records spanning multiple generations. These documents include correspondence exchanged between the Kadoya family and officials in Annam (present-day Vietnam), as well as detailed records of maritime practices, ship regulations, and family precepts passed down through the generations.

Of particular historical significance are letters that describe conditions in the Japanese quarter at Hội An (known as Faifo to Japanese traders), providing invaluable firsthand accounts of Japanese expatriate communities in Southeast Asia before the sakoku (national isolation) policy took full effect.

Why These Documents Are Designated Important Cultural Properties

The Kadoya Family Trade-Related Documents were designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan on June 5, 1982. This designation recognizes several aspects of their exceptional value.

First, the collection provides concrete physical evidence of Japanese vermilion seal ship trade, a relatively brief but influential period in Japanese history. While many records were lost during the subsequent era of national isolation, these documents survived intact, offering researchers direct access to primary sources from this period.

Second, the items demonstrate the sophisticated navigation technology and commercial practices of early 17th century Japanese merchants. The parchment navigation chart, in particular, shows how Japanese traders adopted and adapted European cartographic techniques.

Third, the collection documents Japan's connections with Southeast Asian trading networks before sakoku, including the formation of Japanese expatriate communities abroad. These materials help historians understand the international character of early modern Japan and the cultural exchanges that occurred through maritime commerce.

The Story of Kadoya Shichirōbei: A Life Between Two Worlds

Among the most poignant stories connected to these documents is that of Kadoya Shichirōbei Eikichi, born in 1610 as the second son of the second-generation family head. Embracing the opportunities created by his family's trading privileges, Shichirōbei traveled to Annam in 1631 at just 22 years old, establishing himself in the Japanese quarter of Hội An.

Shichirōbei married a local Vietnamese woman and built a successful life there. However, just two years after his arrival, Japan began implementing sakoku policies that would eventually prohibit Japanese nationals from returning home. Faced with an impossible choice, Shichirōbei decided to remain with his family in Vietnam, never to return to Japan.

Despite the distance, he maintained connections with his homeland, sending letters to family members and making donations to temples in Matsusaka and even to Ise Grand Shrine. In his later years, he became the leader of the Japanese quarter at Hội An and established Shōhon-ji Temple there, where he was eventually buried after passing away in 1672 at the age of 63.

His wife Myōtai continued to send beautifully written letters to Japan after his death, describing how she honored his memory with daily offerings—a touching testament to a cross-cultural marriage that bridged two nations over 350 years ago.

Visiting the Collection at Jingu Chokokan Museum

The Kadoya Family Trade-Related Documents are preserved and displayed at the Jingu Chokokan Museum, located within the sacred grounds of Ise Grand Shrine. This Renaissance-style building, designed by the renowned imperial architect Katayama Tōkuma (who also designed the Akasaka Palace), was established in 1909 as Japan's first private museum.

The museum houses an impressive collection of over 13,000 artifacts related to the history and culture of Ise Grand Shrine, including eleven Important Cultural Properties. Beyond the Kadoya materials, visitors can see treasures from the shrine's periodic reconstruction ceremonies and astronomical instruments created by the famous Edo-period astronomer Shibukawa Harumi.

Connections to Hội An: A Living Heritage

Visitors inspired by the Kadoya family's story might consider extending their cultural exploration to Hội An, Vietnam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves memories of the Japanese trading era. The famous Japanese Covered Bridge (Lai Viễn Kiều), originally built by Japanese merchants in 1593, still stands as a symbol of the historical connection between Japan and Vietnam.

Today, Hội An and its Japanese heritage are experiencing renewed attention. A major restoration project for the Japanese Covered Bridge, supported by JICA and Japanese expertise, was completed in 2024, reinforcing the continuing bonds between Japan and this historic Vietnamese city.

Nearby Attractions and Suggested Itineraries

The Jingu Chokokan Museum is conveniently located between the Inner and Outer Shrines of Ise Grand Shrine, making it easy to incorporate into a visit to Japan's most sacred Shinto site. Nearby, the Jingu Agricultural Museum (Nōgyōkan) and the Jingu Museum of Art offer additional cultural experiences.

For those interested in the Kadoya family's regional roots, consider visiting Matsusaka City, about 30 minutes by train from Ise. The Raikō-ji Temple in Matsusaka preserves memorial monuments for Shichirōbei and his family, offering a quiet place to reflect on this remarkable story of international trade and human connection.