Database: Foreign Trade at Sakai

Chinese junks and Portuguese ships brought many products to the port of Sakai. The items included, medicinal products, precious fabrics, books, paintings, ceramics, and calligraphy materials to name a few. These products accumulated in the city's warehouses before being resold throughout central Japan. The ships returned to China carrying construction wood, silver ore, fine quality paper, fans, screens, furs (from the northern edges of the archipelago), and swords. Japanese swords were as renowned as they were prized throughout the Far East for their high quality. As a result of trade, by 1580 the Portuguese had become effective intermediaries between China and Japan, while continuing to sell firearms in the archipelago.

Sakai had also become an important place for artisanal production. In particular, there were arsenals where firearms, needed by the daimyos to conduct their wars, were made. The metallurgists also made weapons, especially swords. Other craftsmen who specialized in leatherwork made horse saddles and harnesses for the great lord's cavalry. There were also many sake breweries that were as many small banks and workshops for making damask fabrics based on silk.