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A teahouse (''chaya'') was also established on the island by the lords of Fukuyama, to use as their personal lodgings, or simply as a place to rest, when they visited the island. The lords regularly stopped here on their ''sankin kôtai'' journeys, as well as at other times, e.g. for fishing. Tomo is said to be the place the lords visited most often (outside of the castle-town of Fukuyama itself). High-ranking Fukuyama retainers also sometimes were permitted to rest or lodge there.<ref name=aono254/>
A teahouse (''chaya'') was also established on the island by the lords of Fukuyama, to use as their personal lodgings, or simply as a place to rest, when they visited the island. The lords regularly stopped here on their ''sankin kôtai'' journeys, as well as at other times, e.g. for fishing. Tomo is said to be the place the lords visited most often (outside of the castle-town of Fukuyama itself). High-ranking Fukuyama retainers also sometimes were permitted to rest or lodge there.<ref name=aono254/>
A group of Elders (宿老, ''shukurô'') served as representatives of the townspeople, akin to village headmen, though it is unclear whether they were selected by the townspeople, or appointed by the domain. They concerned themselves with the general livelihoods of the people, conveyed the townspeoples’ wishes, and took part in a variety of regular activities of the town. The Elders were also the chief figures present when receiving the lord of Fukuyama, or seeing him off, when he visited Tomo, including when he was leaving for or coming back from ''sankin kôtai''; giving him formal greetings at the teahouse, ''Tomo bugyôsho'', or ''bansho''; giving greetings on both celebratory and non-celebratory occasions, including on New Year’s; and receiving and seeing off the ''Tomo bugyô'' or ''metsuke'' on certain occasions.<ref>Aono, 255.</ref>
One of the chief famous local products (''[[meibutsu]]'') is a form of medicinal liquor called ''[[homeishu]]'' (保命酒). The Nakamura family, known for their ''homeishu'', also hosted ''daimyô'', Ryukyuan embassies, [[Fall of Seven Nobles Incident|court nobles]], and other elite visitors in a set of buildings which together functioned as the town's ''[[honjin]]''; two of those buildings are today known as the Ôta family house (''Ôta-ke jûtaku'') and the Chôsôtei, and have been designated National [[Important Cultural Properties]].<ref name=shirarezaru41>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 41.</ref> Another establishment in the town, known as the Neko-ya, was run by ''[[goyo shonin|goyô shônin]]'' in service to the [[Shimazu clan]], and also regularly provided accommodations to the Shimazu and to Ryukyuan missions.<ref>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'', 45.</ref> Headed in each generation by Neko-ya Kiyosuke<!--猫屋清助-->, the shop specialized in marine products.
One of the chief famous local products (''[[meibutsu]]'') is a form of medicinal liquor called ''[[homeishu]]'' (保命酒). The Nakamura family, known for their ''homeishu'', also hosted ''daimyô'', Ryukyuan embassies, [[Fall of Seven Nobles Incident|court nobles]], and other elite visitors in a set of buildings which together functioned as the town's ''[[honjin]]''; two of those buildings are today known as the Ôta family house (''Ôta-ke jûtaku'') and the Chôsôtei, and have been designated National [[Important Cultural Properties]].<ref name=shirarezaru41>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'' 知られざる琉球使節, Fukuyama-shi Tomonoura rekishi minzoku shiryôkan (2006), 41.</ref> Another establishment in the town, known as the Neko-ya, was run by ''[[goyo shonin|goyô shônin]]'' in service to the [[Shimazu clan]], and also regularly provided accommodations to the Shimazu and to Ryukyuan missions.<ref>''Shirarezaru Ryûkyû shisetsu'', 45.</ref> Headed in each generation by Neko-ya Kiyosuke<!--猫屋清助-->, the shop specialized in marine products.