Message from Load Tunamura Date
You may be a history lover or long stay at Shiogama city if you know about “Ordinance of Jyokyo” even though almost of people knows about “Ordinance of animal protection” in the Edo era.
Although there are various opinions, both ordinances were issued in 1685(2n
d year of Imperial era “Jyokyo” ). The one by Shogun Tsunayoshi Tokugawa, and the other by Load Tunamura Date.
It is not sure that it would be just coincident or name trend at that time since both name have “Tsuna(綱)” word.
Shiogama port was grown by Shiogama shrine which created shrine city like cathedral town in Europe.
However, it was getting depressed due to new investment by Load Masamune Date who was a founder of Sendai domani(Shiogama was Date’s estate), in which he developed Teizan canals in order to carry rice from his inland rice fields to Edo(Tokyo) and it allowed ships to move deep inside of Sendai city by using canals, as a result, Shiogama port has getting less important for a gate function of Sendai city. And then big fires were followed at Shiogama town.
The 4th feudal load Tsunamura Date was deeply religious and closely connecting to Shiogama shrine with respects by devoting holly horses and swords. He has tried to listen to voices of people and considered their difficulties at the town where had Shiogama port. He issued his ordinance which consisted of 9 measures of local economy’s recovery.
The below is his main ordinance which were really bold measures.
- All ships except loading rice must use Shiogama port.
- Tax reduction will be given to people in Shiogama town.
- Proper investments on Shiogama port will be done.
- 250 RYO (equivalent to US$300,000) will be given to Shiogama town each year.
If you could modernize above text, it seems that it would be the solutions for current difficulties on port of Sendai-Shiogama.
- Bulk vessels must use Shiogama port district, and container vessels do Sendai port district.
- Port charges have to be deducted continuously.
- Necessary investments have to be done on the port.
- Incentive program have to be taken in order to increase numbers of coming vessels.
It would be almost same as what Sendai-shiogama promotion association has been requesting to local governments over 10 years more. His bold measures were really worked out and people gathered town again and recovered vibrant and busy days at Shiogama.
We should know that the man who was 300 years ago did make local economic reforms and developments by listening to voices of people, hence taking immediate actions.
Unfortunately, current our voices over decade have not been reached anywhere and are blowing in the wind. (UMO)
