Raw Material Policy in Prewar Japan and Japanese Colonies: The Case of Salt Monopoly System

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26780199
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Economic history
• Research Institution: Seinan Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: MAEDA KIYOTAKA 西南学院大学, 経済学部, 准教授 (90708398)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 日本経済史 / 塩専売制度 / 大蔵省専売局 / 農商務省 / 関東都督府 / 台湾総督府 / 製塩業 / 醤油醸造業

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In 1905, the Japanese government introduced the salt monopoly system to secure its revenue. After the introduction of the system, the salt prices increased. This situation attracted strong public criticism in Japan, the system faced difficulty surviving in the late 1900s. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance improved operations of the system and began to distribute the salt by itself. As a result, it decreased the salt prices and ensure its revenue. However, the Ministry of Finance did not grasp customers’ tastes in salt. Consequently, the government distributed the salt which did not suit the customers’ tastes under the salt monopoly system.

Free Research Field

近代日本経済史