Beikoku shoka jikkenroku ("My Time in American Commerce").

FUKAMACHI, Tozo.

Published by Tokyo: Hakubunkan, 1892

About this Item

First and sole edition. Fukamachi recounts his experiences while working for American mercantile houses from 1886 to 1892. The late 19th century saw business ties between Japan and the US grow stronger, as many Japanese companies opened branches in cities like New York to facilitate trade and support their industrialization. We have traced no copies outside Japan in commerce or institutions. In this volume, Fukamachi lays out his understanding of the American commercial and financial system as a guide for companies hoping to relocate to or trade with the US. There is a particular focus on credit but also on banking overall, with chapters on proper accounting, assets, and the functioning of cheques. It includes examples of different types of ledger, floor plans of department stores, diagrams of the movements of cheques between banks, and an elaborate ring chart showing the different levels of commerce. This chart shows different facets of the market organized into concentric rings, starting with educated and experienced businessmen at the centre and moving outwards to cover creditors, banks, credit research companies, and business insurance. Fukamachi was born to a merchant family in Tokyo. He enrolled in business school but soon found himself travelling to America, where he worked at Kai Orie's Japanese art and curio store in San Francisco. Kai was a pioneer of Japanese commerce in America and an early student of the famous political and societal reformer, Fukuzawa Yukichi. After working for Kai, Fukamachi moved to Chicago and studied business at Bryant and Stratton College. Once graduated he was employed at William M. Hoyt & Co., one of the leading grocery wholesalers for the region. Octavo. Folding diagram, illustrations and diagrams in text; text in Japanese. Original buff paper wrappers, front wrapper lettered in black, wrappers lined with pink paper. Rear wrapper verso inscribed by one "Ai Matsuo" in black ink and with their date of purchase. Wrappers scuffed and foxed, a few creases, contents lightly toned and foxed, final leaf with small hole, some loss to text: a very good copy.

Seller Inventory # 181849

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Beikoku shoka jikkenroku ("My Time in American Commerce").
• Publisher: Tokyo: Hakubunkan, 1892
• Edition: 1st Edition