Publishing Networks in Edo Japan

The publishing business in the Edo period (1603 – 1868) was very unique since it was divided into two genres: shomotsu mononohon and jihon kusazōshi. Publishers had their specialties and their business strategies varied. In this research paper the author examines the publishing strategies from the view of the network system.　The Edo publishing network is just one among many networks that existed in the Edo society. In the end the readers will understand the various networks had the roles to energize the Edo community and each network was indispensable among the whole big network system.