This merchant family was very wealthy, made loans to daimyo (Japanese territorial lord), and took charge of accounts in clan's warehouse, but after the Meiji Restoration, the family was forced to leave Imai because Haihan-chiken (abolition of feudal domains and establishment of prefectures) caused the freezing of loans.
大名に貸し付けを行い藩の蔵元を務めていたほどの豪商だったが、明治維新後の廃藩置県により貸付金が凍結し今井を離れざるを得なかった。