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.