index
Part 2: Modern era
Chapter 6: Entrepreneurs
IWASAKI Yataro, 1834-1885
Iwasaki was an entrepreneur during the Meiji era. He lived in the Tosa Domain, where he engaged in trade with the domain administrators such as Yoshida Toyo and Goto Shojiro. After working for the administration-operated Tosa Shokai (Tosa Trading Co.), he established Mitsubishi Shokai (Mitsubishi Trading Co.). As a close associate of Okubo Toshimichi, Okuma Shigenobu, and others, he held an exclusive right to operate a maritime shipping business under the careful protection of the government, thereby laying the foundation for what would become the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu.
100 Iwasaki Yataro shokan, March 4, 1877 [Ueno Kagenori Papers (deposit): 7-2-2]
This letter was written by Iwasaki to Japan's minister extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom, Ueno Kagenori. In the first part of the letter, Iwasaki asks Ueno to provide aegis for the sons of two Mitsubishi employees, who have come to the UK to study. In the latter part of the letter, he provides information about the Satsuma Rebellion, about which Ueno—who was from Kagoshima— was most likely deeply concerned. Mitsubishi provided the Japanese government with 38 ships for military transportation, so Iwasaki likely had much information about the situation. This relationship with the government was a significant factor in Mitsubishi's growth into a major industrial company.
岩崎弥太郎書簡
岩崎弥太郎書簡
Column Foreign students and danshaku imo
One of the two students studying in the UK was Kawada Ryukichi, son of Kawada Koichiro, who was a highly capable subordinate of Iwasaki's. The 21-year-old Ryukichi met a girl named Jenny in the UK and the two fell in love. Ryukichi eventually returned to Japan without marrying Jenny, where he worked for many years in shipbuilding business. But he never was able to forget Jenny nor the taste of the potatoes that he had first eaten with her in the UK, and he made great efforts to popularize potatoes as a foodstuff in Hokkaido. Since Ryukichi had inherited the title of baron from his father, the potatoes he raised were soon nicknamed danshaku imo (baron potato) and even today is Japan's most popular type of potato.
GODAI Tomoatsu, 1835–1885
An entrepreneur. Born into a family that had served as officials for the Satsuma Domain. During the end of the Edo period, he went to Europe on the orders of his domain to procure weapons and other goods. After the Meiji Restoration, he left government for business pursuits. He had deep ties with the Meiji oligarchy. He was involved in a wide range of ventures—including mining, railways, and indigo production—and founded the Osaka Chamber of Commerce (later the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry) in 1878, ultimately laying the foundation for the business world in Kansai. In 1881, he faced public criticism for his involvement in the Incident Concerning the Sale of the Properties Owned by the Hokkaido Development Commission.
101 Godai Tomoatsu shokan, October 29, 1881 [MAEDA Masana Papaers: (No. 2): 23-1]
A letter addressed to Maeda Masana, a Satsuma native and bureaucrat in the Ministry Finance The letter contains advice to Maeda, who sought to promote Japan's direct export of raw silk, on how to counter officials who were against such a move. At that time, Japanese merchants and foreign traders were in opposition over Japan's leading export commodity of raw silk. For Japan, direct export of raw silk was a way to eliminate the exploitation of such a trade by foreign merchants acting as middlemen and was a deeply held national goal. This letter reveals that Godai was working toward this end behind the scenes. Around the time that this letter was written, the planned sale of government assets of the Hokkaido Development Commission to companies affiliated with Godai was revoked.
五代友厚書簡（冒頭）
（封筒）
SHIBUSAWA Eiichi, 1840-1931
Shibusawa was an entrepreneur during the Meiji and the Taisho eras. He worked for the Hitotsubashi family and eventually became a retainer of the Shogunate. As a member of the Shogunate's delegation to the Paris International Exposition, he visited Europe and the Americas, after which he was appointed to work in the newly created Ministry of Finance and later founded the Daiichi Kokuritsu Ginko (First National Bank). Through these experiences, he participated in the establishment of over 500 enterprises, including Oji Paper and the Tokyo Stock Exchange, earning the moniker "the father of Japanese capitalism".
102 Shibusawa Eiichi shokan, February 13, 1895 [Enomoto Takeaki Papers: 54-6]
This letter was written by Shibusawa to Minister of Agriculture and Commerce Enomoto Takeaki, in which Shibusawa asks Enomoto for permission to study potential building sites for a paper plant. The Russo-Japanese War and other factors had led to a shortage of newsprint and other types of paper. The content of the letter indicates that Shibusawa's Oji Paper planned to build a new factory and to use wood pulp rather than rags as raw materials.
渋沢栄一書簡
渋沢栄一書簡
OKURA Kihachiro, 1837-1928
Okura was a businessman in the Meiji and the Taisho eras. Using profits made by selling guns during the upheaval of the Meiji Restoration, Okura established the Okura-Gumi Shokai (Okura-Gumi Trading Co.), thereby starting a foreign trade business that would grow into the Okura Zaibatsu. He was involved in the establishment of the Imperial Hotel, the Imperial Theater, and the Okura Commercial School, which later became Tokyo Keizai University.
103 Okura Kihachiro shokan, June 28, 1901 [Ito Hirobumi Papers (No.1): 243-4]
This letter was written by Okura to Ito Hirobumi to inform Ito of a meeting scheduled to take place at the home of a certain "Mr. Jackson" at Yamanote 160-bankan in Yokohama. The content of the letter shows that Okura contacted Jackson on Ito's behalf to arrange the meeting. This "Mr. Jackson" is thought to be Thomas Jackson, who later became the president of the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, a major British company, and who served as manager of the Yokohama branch office of the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank for four years, starting in 1871. Jackson was a strong proponent of purchasing Japanese bonds both while in Yokohama and even after he became president of the bank.
大倉喜八郎書簡
（封筒）
HIROOKA Asako, 1849–1919
An entrepreneur. Fourth daughter of the sixth head of the Demizu branch of the Mitsui family (later the Koishikawa branch). At the age of 17, she married Hirooka Shingoro from the wealthy Kajimaya merchant family in Osaka. After the Meiji Restoration, she became involved in managing coal mines and establishing banks and life insurance companies. She also became acquainted with the educator Naruse Jinzo and took to the ideas in his book Joshi kyoiku (lit. On Women's Education). She played a part in founding Japan Women's University and was a tireless advocate for advancing women's education.
104 Hirooka Asako shokan, February 6, 1908 [KOJIMA Kazuo Papers 33-6]
A letter reflecting Hirooka Asako's fondness for the game of Go. Nakagawa Senji (later Nakagawa Kamesaburo II), whom Hirooka sponsored, played against Tamura Yasuhisa (later Hon'inbo Shusai), sponsored by Toyama Mitsuru. Nakagawa won in the second of ten games held at Ikahoro in Ueno. The material shown here is a letter Hirooka wrote from Osaka to Kojima Kazuo, a reporter for the magazine Nihon Oyobi Nihonjin ([雑54-36ハ]), immediately after learning of the result by telegram. While delighted by the victory of the Go player she sponsored, she also asked Kojima to relay a message to Nakagawa, urging him to refrain from binge drinking and to approach his future matches with seriousness.
広岡浅子書簡
MIKIMOTO Kokichi, 1858–1954
An entrepreneur and pioneer of cultured pearls. Born in Toba, Mie Prefecture, as the eldest son of an udon shop owner. He peddled vegetables and fruit while helping with the family business and eventually became a dealer in marine products. In 1893, he succeeded in cultivating the world's first half-spherical pearl; he then went on to successfully cultivate perfectly round pearls and eventually obtained a patent in 1908. After iterative improvements over time, he received another patent in 1919 for a superior method of producing spherical pearls. He later expanded the reach of his pearl business to various parts of the world and participated in exhibitions in Japan and abroad to display his cultured pearls, earning him the title of "Pearl King."
105 Mikimoto Kokichi shokan, June 15, 1923 [SAKATANI Yoshiro Papers: 167]
A letter addressed to Sakatani Yoshiro, president of the Imperial Invention Association, member of the House of Peers, and former Minister of Finance. Mikimoto expresses delight at Sakatani's wearing of a cultured-pearl pin when they last met; he mentions his appreciation for Sakatani's continued patronage and his intention to present him with perfectly round pearls in the future. The stylized signature beneath his sign-off appears to be modeled after a pearl oyster and pearl, thus reflecting the sense of humor of "Pearl King" Mikimoto.
Column Railroad Barons
The five figures introduced here—Nezu Kaichiro, Kobayashi Ichizo, Tsutsumi Yasujiro, Hayakawa Noritsugu, and Goto Keita—were all involved in Japan's railway industry. The private railway companies they established or developed—Tobu Railway (Nezu), Hankyu Railway (Kobayashi), Seibu Railway (Tsutsumi), and Tokyu Railway (Goto)—were all major railway corporations founded successively from the Meiji to Taisho eras. Many would be familiar with these figures as founders or as key figures in the development of these companies. Kobayashi pioneered a business model of building residential and leisure facilities along railway lines and department stores around terminal stations. This model was adopted by other major railway companies and has profoundly transformed the everyday lives of Japanese people.
In contrast to these figures, Hayakawa, who can be called the father of Japan's subways, is less well-known. Unfortunately for Hayakawa, the Tokyo Underground Railway Company that he founded lost out to Tokyo Kosoku Tetsudo (Rapid Transit), founded by Goto, in their competitive rivalry, and he was forced out of management. Nonetheless, Hayakawa has left his mark as someone who first made the subway a reality, an idea that many at that time regarded with skepticism; his contribution to the development of the vast web of subways that we see in cities today should not be forgotten.
NEZU Kaichiro I, 1860–1940
An entrepreneur. His pseudonym was Seizan. In his native Yamanashi, he served as a member of the village, county, and prefectural assemblies. After he moved to Tokyo, he became a member of the House of Peers and the House of Representatives while working alongside fellow Yamanashi-born industrialists such as Wakao Ippei and Amemiya Keijiro. He made his fortune through the stock market. In 1905, he became president of the struggling Tobu Railway. He turned the company around during his long tenure as president. He was also involved in the management of as many as 24 railway companies, including Boso Railway and Nankai Railway, ultimately earning him the title of "Railroad Baron."
106 Nezu Kaichiro shokan, May 1, (Year Unknown), [ISHIGURO Tadanori Papers: 920]
A letter of thanks to Ishiguro Tadanori, also well-known as a tea master, for his compliments on the utensils Nezu used in the chakai (tea ceremony gathering) to which Nezu invited Ishiguro. Nezu reminisces about how he had collected art and antiques since his youth, but he began to devote himself to chado, which has a deep connection to antique utensils, only in middle age. Nezu came to be known as a chado practitioner in his own right after a chakai gathering held in 1918 at Bujian, a teahouse built on the grounds of his residence in Aoyama, Tokyo. The tea utensils that Nezu collected, along with pieces in his art collection, are now housed in the Nezu Museum in Minato Ward, Tokyo.
KOBAYASHI Ichizo, 1873–1957
An entrepreneur. He joined Mitsui Bank after graduating from Keio Gijuku. In 1907, he was appointed executive director of newly founded Minoo Arima Electric Railway (present-day Hankyu Railway) and later became its presidency in 1927. He was not only involved in operating the railway but also pioneered a new model of developing residential areas and leisure facilities along rail lines and opening department stores at terminal stations. He was also involved in the founding and development of numerous companies, including Toho and Tokyo Electric Light (later Tokyo Electric Power Company), becoming a leading figure in Japan's business world. He served as Minister of Commerce and Industry in the second Konoe Cabinet and as Minister of State and head of the War Damage Reconstruction Board in the Shidehara Cabinet after the war, although he was purged from public office shortly after. He is also known as the founder of the Takarazuka Girls Revue (later the Takarazuka Revue).
107 Kobayashi Ichizo shokan, September 4, 1937 [ISHIBASHI Tanzan Papers (No. 1): 138]
Kobayashi published numerous essays on economic affairs and other topics in the decade starting from 1935. This letter accompanied two of his books which he sent to the well-known polemicist Ishibashi Tanzan. The letter begins with Kobayashi's appreciation for Ishibashi's comments on his articles, which first appeared in magazines before being compiled into book form. The stationery bears the letterhead of Tokyo Electric Light, where Kobayashi had served as president since 1933.
小林一三書簡（2枚目）
小林一三書簡（1枚目）
TSUTSUMI Yasujiro, 1889–1964
Tsutsumi was an entrepreneur and politician. He began his business career with land development projects in Karuizawa and Hakone and expanded into toll roads and railways. By acquiring the former Seibu Railway and merging it with Musashino Railway, in which he was already involved, he laid the foundation for the present-day Seibu Railway. After WWII, he was engaged in fierce competition with Goto Keita's Tokyu group in what came to be known as the Mt. Hakone War, a rivalry over the development of the tourist regions of Hakone and Izu. He also entered politics in 1924 and served as speaker in the House of Representatives from 1953 to 1954.
108 Tsutsumi Yasujiro shokan, September 1, 1931 [SEKIYA Teisaburo Papers: 740]
A postcard sent to Sekiya Teizaburo in remembrance of Hamaguchi Osachi, whose funeral ceremony was held on August 29 by the Rikken minsei-to (Constitutional Democratic Party). Tsutsumi wrote "ama" on the picture side of the postcard, a word referring to female divers who collect shellfish and other marine products underwater. The text in the postcard suggests that Tsutsumi and Hamaguchi shared some memory connected to ama during Hamguchi's lifetime.
堤康次郎書簡（写真面）
（通信文）
HAYAKAWA Noritsugu, 1881–1942
An entrepreneur. Born in Yamanashi Prefecture, he began his career in railway management in 1909, when Nezu Kaichiro, an older colleague in the same industry, recognized his ability and entrusted him with reviving Sano Railway. During an inspection tour of Europe and the United States in 1914, Hayakawa was struck by the advances in their transportation networks and resolved to build a subway in Tokyo. Although he found little support for this project, he persisted in investigations and negotiations and finally succeeded in establishing the Tokyo Underground Railway Company (present-day Tokyo Metro) in 1920. In December 1927, the company opened Japan's first subway line running between Ueno and Asakusa. He is remembered as the "father of the subway in Japan."
109 Hayakawa Noritsugu shokan, July 10, 1934 [ISHIBASHI Tanzan Papers (No. 2): 30-1]
A letter sent to Ishibashi Tanzan, a fellow Yamanashi native and longtime classmate. Just weeks before this letter was written, the operational section of the Tokyo Underground Railway had just been extended from Asakusa to Shimbashi, with the opening of the Ginza–Shinbashi section on June 21. Through Hayakawa's words about how this latest project was one of the greatest undertakings of his life into which he had poured his heart, we can see his dedication to constructing a subway system. However, when Goto Keita's Tokyo Kosoku Tetsudo (Rapid Transit) opened a Shinbashi–Shibuya subway line and Goto proposed a through-service connection together with Hayakawa's railway line, Hayakawa rejected the proposal. The two companies then entered into a rivalry that ended with Hayakawa's departure from the Tokyo Underground Railway Company. Thereafter, under the government's wartime policy of unifying the country's transportation network, both companies were dissolved and reorganized to form the Teito Rapid Transit Authority, which operated the Ginza Line (now the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line).
早川徳次書簡（冒頭）
（署名部分）
GOTO Keita, 1882–1959
An entrepreneur. After graduating from the Law College of the Imperial University of Tokyo, he entered government service and became section chief of the Railway Department. Given his experience, he was invited to join the management of Musashi Electric Railway. He drew on the business model pioneered by Kobayashi Ichizo of developing the areas along railway lines and laid the foundation for what is now Tokyu Railways. People came to refer to the two major players in Japan's railway industry as "Kobayashi in the West, Goto in the East, respectively." Goto expanded his business through numerous acquisitions, including shares of the Tokyo Underground Railway founded by Hayakawa Noritsugu. In 1944, he also joined the Tojo Cabinet as Minister of Transport and Communications.
110 Goto Keita shokan, April 18, 1944 [IZAWA Takio Papers: 134]
A letter addressed to Izawa Takio, who had served as a Home Ministry bureaucrat and later became Privy Councilor. At that time, Goto was serving as Minister of Transport and Communications, a position he had held since February 19, 1944. This letter appears to be a note of thanks for Izawa's praise of Goto's personnel appointments on April 11 of the Vice Minister of Transport and Communications and the president of the Communications Board. Hoshino Naoki, who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary under the Tojo Cabinet, later recalled in his book Goto Keita no tsuiso how brilliantly Goto was able to read and move people in the ministry despite his short tenure.