Muromachi merchants in Kyoto have managed the kimono textile wholesale business for hundreds of years. The Nishimura family, one of the most enduring Muromachi merchants, started their business in the mid-16th century as hōe-shō (textile suppliers for Buddhist priests’ silk vestments) and stayed in business into the 21st century. Their long-standing family business was represented by a shop curtain, noren, where a family crest was imprinted.The environmental changes and technological developments after the Meiji Restoration (1868) brought an increasing number of consumers and an influx of competitions in the industry. While the traditional shop style turned into a company in the early 20th century, the Nishimura family led the industry by keeping the traditional business styles that prioritized good relationships among its shop owners, employees, and society.In this paper, two Nishimura family businesses, Chiji and Chikichi, in the first half of the 20th century are reviewed based on stories privately written by their business successors and Kyoto Chamber of Commerce archives
