Naniwako

• Japanese: 浪花講 (Naniwa kô)

Naniwa kô were Edo period membership organizations that helped members organize trips. For example, they maintained relationships with hatagoya and other lodgings for which they could then vouch for the quality, comfort, and legitimacy. Associated inns hung signboards with the names of the various kô outside their entrances, marking them as credible establishments approved by the kô.

An Osaka man named Matsuya Gensuke is credited with the idea, and with establishing the first such group. Numerous others, with names such as Azuma kô and Santo kô, appeared soon afterward.

References

• Gallery labels, Futagawa-juku honjin shiryôkan, Toyohashi.[1]