Changes

In [[1623]], a pair of young Ryukyuan aristocrats sent to China by [[Gima Shinjo|Gima Shinjô]] introduced to the kingdom advanced sugar processing techniques; sugar plantations in the islands quickly began to take off, and Ryukyuan sugar, imported via Satsuma, became a major source of the product. The kingdom began in [[1666]] to pay one-third of its annual tribute payments to Satsuma in sugar. Sugar was not only grown in the Ryûkyûs, but was also obtained by Ryukyuan trading ships in Southeast Asia. The cane was processed using a ''sata-guruma'', a large grinding device pulled by a horse or water buffalo; the resulting cane juice was then boiled to produce brown sugar (''kurozato'', ''kokutô''). The original mechanism introduced in the 1620s used two rollers; three rollers came to be used in [[1671]]. The wooden sugar mills were replaced with stone ones beginning in [[1831]], and iron ones from [[1882]]. The first Western-style sugar factory equipment was installed in Okinawa in [[1908]], but traditional mills remained in use well into the post-war period.<ref>Explanatory plaque, ''Sata-guruma'', Okinawa Furusato Mura, at Okinawa Expo Park.</ref>

In [[1623]], a pair of young Ryukyuan aristocrats sent to China by [[Gima Shinjo|Gima Shinjô]] introduced to the kingdom advanced sugar processing techniques; sugar plantations in the islands quickly began to take off, and Ryukyuan sugar, imported via Satsuma, became a major source of the product. The kingdom began in [[1666]] to pay one-third of its annual tribute payments to Satsuma in sugar. Sugar was not only grown in the Ryûkyûs, but was also obtained by Ryukyuan trading ships in Southeast Asia. The cane was processed using a ''sata-guruma'', a large grinding device pulled by a horse or water buffalo; the resulting cane juice was then boiled to produce brown sugar (''kurozato'', ''kokutô''). The original mechanism introduced in the 1620s used two rollers; three rollers came to be used in [[1671]]. The wooden sugar mills were replaced with stone ones beginning in [[1831]], and iron ones from [[1882]]. The first Western-style sugar factory equipment was installed in Okinawa in [[1908]], but traditional mills remained in use well into the post-war period.<ref>Explanatory plaque, ''Sata-guruma'', Okinawa Furusato Mura, at Okinawa Expo Park.</ref>

The Ryûkyû Kingdom's government claimed a royal monopoly on sales of sugar and [[turmeric]] (''ukon'') within the kingdom in [[1647]], helping the kingdom afford its repayments on loans from [[Satsuma han]]. Fifty years later, the kingdom placed restrictions on the planting of these two crops; these restrictions wouldn't be lifted until [[1888]].

The Ryûkyû Kingdom's government claimed a royal monopoly on sales of sugar and [[turmeric]] (''ukon'') within the kingdom in [[1647]], helping the kingdom afford its repayments on loans from [[Satsuma han]]. Fifty years later, the kingdom placed restrictions on the planting of these two crops; these restrictions wouldn't be lifted until [[1888]]. Buying, selling, shipping, and storage of sugar under the governmental monopoly was managed by an office called the ''satôza'' (Sugar Guild). It was headed by two ''satôza ôyako'' (one selected from the [[Shuri]] scholar-aristocracy and one from that of [[Naha]]), under the authority of a single ''satôza bugyô'' (Sugar Guild Magistrate).<ref>''Naha shizoku no isshô'' 那覇士族の一生 (Naha: Naha City Museum of History, 2010), 14.</ref>

As Satsuma's exploitation of Amami sugar became more systematized and successful, the domain imposed restrictions on the export of Ryukyuan sugar from the kingdom, obliging Ryûkyû to produce sugar only for domestic consumption (within the kingdom), and levying a tax on any additional sugar produced. Such policies, aimed at preventing Ryukyuan sugar from competing with Amami sugar at the Osaka markets, were reaffirmed in [[1804]]. However, Ryûkyû continued to export sugar to Satsuma, often arriving earlier in the season than shipments of Amami sugar, and thus arriving earlier at Osaka as well, and commanding higher prices. Seeing the value of this revenue, and the vital role played by sugar in the kingdom's economy, Satsuma officials found themselves reluctant to impose tighter restrictions; in [[1831]], they even allowed Ryûkyû to begin paying a portion of its tribute to Satsuma in the form of sugar, rather than rice.<ref name=hellyer128/>

As Satsuma's exploitation of Amami sugar became more systematized and successful, the domain imposed restrictions on the export of Ryukyuan sugar from the kingdom, obliging Ryûkyû to produce sugar only for domestic consumption (within the kingdom), and levying a tax on any additional sugar produced. Such policies, aimed at preventing Ryukyuan sugar from competing with Amami sugar at the Osaka markets, were reaffirmed in [[1804]]. However, Ryûkyû continued to export sugar to Satsuma, often arriving earlier in the season than shipments of Amami sugar, and thus arriving earlier at Osaka as well, and commanding higher prices. Seeing the value of this revenue, and the vital role played by sugar in the kingdom's economy, Satsuma officials found themselves reluctant to impose tighter restrictions; in [[1831]], they even allowed Ryûkyû to begin paying a portion of its tribute to Satsuma in the form of sugar, rather than rice.<ref name=hellyer128/>