Higaki kaisen

Scale model reproduction of a higaki kaisen ship on display at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, based on illustrations from c. 1804-1818, of a 1500-koku ship.
  • Japanese: 菱垣廻船 (higaki kaisen)

Higaki kaisen were a type of Edo period cargo ship which traveled regularly between Edo and Osaka, carrying cotton, oil, paper, and other basic goods. The name refers to the diamond-shaped (hishi) pattern of lattices (gaki) on the side of the cargo ship (kaisen).

References

  • Gallery labels, Edo-Tokyo Museum.