It is the beginning of the Meiji era. Once just a sleepy fishing village, the opening of foreign trade in Yokoha- ma and the decline of Edo led Yokohama to become the premier hub of trade in all of Japan. During this period, Japanese products such as copper and raw silk were established in Yokohama to be exported to foreign countries.
In addition, foreign technology and culture were incorporated into Japan, and modernization slow- ly swept over the streets of the city. Behind all of these incredible developments were the capable merchants of Yokohama. …