Changes

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>

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-ke nikki|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.

For a brief time in the early [[Edo period]], Tomo was also home to a designated inn maintained by the factor of the [[British East India Company]] based in [[Hirado]]. When Korean missions stopped in Tomonoura on their way to and from Edo, the Korean lead envoy typically stayed in a guest room at the Buddhist temple of Fukuzen-ji<!--福善寺-->; the guest room was known as Taichôrô (対潮楼), and is said to have offered a beautiful view of the Inland Sea. Many plaques, works of calligraphy, and the like given as gifts from Korean envoys remain in the temple's collection today.  

For a brief time in the early [[Edo period]], Tomo was also home to a designated inn maintained by the factor of the [[British East India Company]] based in [[Hirado]]. When Korean missions stopped in Tomonoura on their way to and from Edo, the Korean lead envoy typically stayed in a guest room at the Buddhist temple of Fukuzen-ji<!--福善寺-->; the guest room was known as Taichôrô (対潮楼), and is said to have offered a beautiful view of the Inland Sea. Many plaques, works of calligraphy, and the like given as gifts from Korean envoys remain in the temple's collection today.