本稿は，近代日本における木材市場の動向を，材木商の植林事業への進出と関連付けて解明する。日本では，近代期に本格的に植林事業が進められ，その担い手となったのが材木商であった。近代日本の木材市場は，1890年代までは海運・水運中心の流通であったが，鉄道網の整備とともに，1900年代に部分的に鉄道への代替が進んだ。その後，1910年代に北海道・樺太の森林開発が進んで，それら北洋材が本州に移入されるようになり，また，20年代にアメリカ合衆国産材が大量に輸入されるようになると，木材市場が複雑化し，材木商間の取引関係も変容した。そして，製材専門業者が成長するとともに，有力材木商による製材事業への進出が見られた。
This study analyzed the trends of the lumber market in modern Japan corresponding to the advance of lumber merchants into the afforestation business. In Japan, afforestation business was keenly promoted in the modern era, and the lumber merchant lead the business. The lumber market in modern Japan was centered on water transportation until the 1890s. However, in the 1900s, with the development of the railway network, wooden transport vehicles were partially replaced by railways. Subsequently, with the development of forests in Hokkaido and Karafuto in the 1910s, north-land wood was transported to Honshu (the main island of Japan). When a large amount of American wood was imported in the 1920s, the lumber market became complicated, which changed the trade relationship among lumber merchants. Lumber manufacturers grew in numbers and influential lumber merchants entered the lumbering business.

論説