Let's take a look
at how the crew of "Kitamae ships" had come to play
a leading role on the Sea of Japan route:
Many of the "Kitamae" ship owners of Kaga started
as sailors hired by the merchants of Shiga and Ohmi in the latter
half of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century.
Ohmi merchants are said to have been the first
to visit Ezochi from mainland Japan.
They employed the seamen of Wakasa, Echizen and Kaga as sailors
on the ship carrying goods obtained from Ezochi after it had
been developed.
As they were entrusted with navigation of
the ships and gained experienced in trading goods, they began
to develop their business skills.
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