Trade relation between Osaka/Kyoto and Edo and the castletowens along and on the periphery of the Tokaido road, on the one hand, and between Osaka/kyoto and the domains (han), on the other,brought about the need for and consequent rapid development of a more efficient and economical system of transportation and communication by land and by sea. The responsibility for providing the necessary modes and mechanisms to facilitate the dynamic-expansion of trade and commerce and to provide the essential market and monetary network, of course, fell upon the shoulders of the merchants and artisans/craftsmen because they were equipped to accomplish such purposes.
It was beneath the dignity of the samurai to be connected in any way with matters related to trade or commerce. The reluctance of the samurai to engage in commercial matters resulted in great benefits to both the merchants and