Yoichi

Yoichi lies at the mouth of a river on the Sea of Japan, a district known for salmon and herring. The Matsumae domain assigned rights to trade with the local Ainu, and merchants later managed the trading places and fisheries. In 1773 a Matsumae retainer brought eighty-three fishermen from Kaminokuni, who built huts and fishing stations here. Ainu residents, the trading house and seasonal fishermen all took part in the herring and salmon fisheries.