Template:Japanese name
Shibusawa Eiichi
, 1st Viscount Shibusawa
(
?? ?一
, March 16, 1840 – November 11, 1931)
was a
Japanese
industrialist
widely known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism". He spearheaded the introduction of Western capitalism to Japan after the
Meiji Restoration
. He introduced many economic reforms including use of
double entry accounting
,
joint stock corporations
and modern note-issuing banks.
[1]
He founded the first modern bank based on joint stock ownership in Japan. The bank was aptly named The First National Bank (
Dai Ichi Kokuritsu Gink?
, now merged into
Mizuho Bank
) and had the power to issue its own notes. Through this bank, he founded hundreds of other joint stock corporations in Japan. Many of these companies still survive to this day as quoted companies in the
Tokyo Stock Exchange
, which Shibusawa also founded. The
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
was founded by him as well. He was also involved in the foundation of many hospitals, schools, universities (including the first women's university), the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and charitable organizations including the
Japan Red Cross
.
[1]
Another notable aspect of Shibusawa's career is that, despite being the founder of hundreds of corporations, he refused to maintain a controlling stake in these corporations, effectively preventing himself from forming a
zaibatsu
. What is known as the
Shibusawa zaibatsu
was a holding company to look after his estate for his family. The
Shibusawa Zaibatsu
did not hold any controlling stake in any companies. Despite his lowly origin as a farmer, he was granted the title of
Viscount
, while all other
zaibatsu
founders were awarded the title of Baron. He was also awarded
Sh?nii
, Second Honour under the
ritsury?
rank system, which is usually given to high ranking nobility and prime ministers.
Life
Shibusawa was born on March 16, 1840 in a farmhouse in Chiaraijima (located in the present-day city of
Fukaya
, Saitama prefecture). As a boy, he learned reading and writing from his father. He grew up helping with the family business of dry field farming, indigo production and sale, and silk raising and later studied the
Confucian
classics and the
history of Japan
under
Odaka Junchu
, a scholar who was his cousin.
Under the influence of
sonn? j?i
(expel the barbarians; revere the emperor) sentiment, he formulated a plan along with cousins and friends to capture
Takasaki Castle
and set fires in the foreign settlement in
Yokohama
. Ultimately, however, this plan was canceled and he moved on to
Kyoto
.
Shibusawa left his hometown at the age of twenty-three, and entered the service of
Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu
(then in line for the position of
shogun
). He distinguished himself by his work in strengthening the household finances of the
Hitotsubashi family
.
When he was twenty-seven years old, he visited
France
and other
European
countries as a member of
Tokugawa Akitake
's Delegation to the
Paris World Exposition
. In this trip Shibusawa observed modern European societies and cultures for the first time, and realized the importance of industrial and economic development.
After returning from Europe at the news of the change of governments now known as the Meiji Restoration, he established the
Sh?h? Kaish?
, one of the first
joint stock companies
in Japan, in
Shizuoka prefecture
. Afterwards, he was invited by the Meiji government to become a member of the
Ministry of Finance
, where he became a driving force in the building of a modern Japan as head of the
Kaisei Kakari
, or office of the Ministry of Finance in charge of reform.
In 1873 Shibusawa resigned from the Ministry of Finance and became the president of the
Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Gink?
(lit. "First National Bank"). This was Japan's first modern
bank
, established under his own guidance while still employed by the Ministry of Finance. With this bank as a base, Shibusawa devoted himself to founding and encouraging businesses of all sorts.
Shibusawa was an advocate throughout his life of the idea that good ethics and business should be in harmony. The number of enterprises in which he was involved as founder or supporter is said to exceed 500, and includes
Mizuho Financial Group
,
The 77 Bank
,
Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co.
,
Imperial Hotel
,
Tokyo Stock Exchange
,
Tokyo Gas
,
Toyobo
,
Keihan Electric Railway
,
Taiheiyo Cement
,
Oji Paper Company
,
Sapporo Breweries
, and
NYK Line
. Moreover, he spearheaded many works for the betterment of society, and was an enthusiastic supporter of education, especially higher education in the field of business such as current
Hitotsubashi University
and current
Tokyo Keizai University
, higher education for women, and
private schools
. Shibusawa involved himself in some 600 projects related to education,
social welfare
, and others.
In addition, Shibusawa made efforts to promote exchange of goods and goodwill across national boundaries through private-sector diplomacy. Numerous guests from overseas visited the Shibusawa residence in Asukayama, where they talked candidly with him.
Having lived through a time of great change and having stood personally in the vanguard of change in a new era, Shibusawa died at the age of ninety-one on November 11, 1931.
Honors
In fiction
Shibusawa, along with many other famous historical figures from the
Meiji Restoration
, is a supporting character in the
historical fantasy
novel
Teito Monogatari
by
Aramata Hiroshi
. In the 1988 adaptation, known in the west as
Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis
, he is portrayed by renowned Japanese actor
Katsu Shintar?
. In the
animated adaptation
, he is voiced by
Osamu Saka
.
See also
References
- ^
a
b
Odagiri, Hiroyuki (1996).
Technology and Industrial Development in Japan
. Oxford University Press. pp. 72?73.
ISBN
0-19-828802-6
.
External links
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