Shibusawa Eiichi | |
|---|---|
渋沢 栄一 | |
 | |
| Born | (1840-03-16)March 16, 1840 |
| Died | November 11, 1931(1931-11-11) (aged 91) Motonishigahara, Takinogawa Ward, Kitatoshima District,Tokyo,Empire of Japan (now Nishigahara,Kita Ward,Tokyo) |
| Occupations |
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| Spouses | |
| Children | Tokuji Shibusawa [jp],Masao Shibusawa [jp] |
| Honours | Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure 4th Class Grand Order of the Order of the Rising Sun with Pauwlonia Flowers |
Shibusawa Eiichi, 1st Viscount Shibusawa (渋沢 栄一, March 16, 1840 – November 11, 1931) was a Japaneseindustrialist widely known today as the "father of Japanesecapitalism", having introduced Western capitalism to Japan after theMeiji Restoration. He introduced many economic reforms including use ofdouble-entry accounting,joint-stock corporations and modern note-issuing banks.[2]
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 Ginkō, now merged intoMizuho 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 theTokyo Stock Exchange, which Shibusawa also founded. The Japanese 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 theJapan Red Cross.[2]
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 azaibatsu. What is known as theShibusawa zaibatsu was a holding company to look after his estate for his family. TheShibusawa Zaibatsu did not hold any controlling stake in any companies. Despite his humble origin as a farmer, he was granted the title ofViscount, while all otherzaibatsu founders were awarded the title of Baron. He was also awardedShōnii, Second Honour under theritsuryō rank system, which is usually given to high-ranking nobility and prime ministers.
Shibusawa is featured on the10,000 Japanese yen note, one of the new designs that went into circulation on 3 July 2024.[3] Shibusawa was also printed on bank notes issued by the Korea First Bank, which he owned, in 1902.[4][unreliable source?][5] The choice of Shibusawa has previously been criticised in South Korea.[6][7]
Shibusawa was born on March 16, 1840, in a farmhouse in Chiaraijima (located in the present-day city ofFukaya inSaitama 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 theConfucian classics and thehistory of Japan under Odaka Junchu, a scholar who was his cousin.
Under the influence ofsonnō jōi (expel the barbarians; revere the emperor) sentiment, he formulated a plan along with cousins and friends to captureTakasaki Castle and set fires in the foreign settlement inYokohama. Ultimately, however, this plan was canceled and he moved on toKyoto.
Shibusawa left his hometown at the age of twenty-three, and entered the service ofHitotsubashi Yoshinobu (then in line for the position ofshōgun). 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 otherEuropean countries as a member ofTokugawa Akitake's delegation to theExposition Universelle (1867). On 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 theMeiji Restoration, he established theShōhō Kaishō, one of the firstjoint-stock companies in Japan, inShizuoka Prefecture. Afterwards, he was invited by the Meiji government to become a member of theMinistry of Finance, where he became a driving force in the building of a modern Japan as head of theKaisei 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 theDai-Ichi Bank (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 five hundred, and includesMizuho Financial Group,The 77 Bank,Tokio Marine Nichido,Imperial Hotel,Tokyo Stock Exchange,Tokyo Gas,Toyobo,Tokyu Corporation,Keihan Electric Railway,Taiheiyo Cement,Oji Paper Company,Sapporo Breweries,NYK Line, and theGyeongin Railway and theGyeongbu Railway inKorea. He was president of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce. 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 currentHitotsubashi University and currentTokyo Keizai University, higher education for women, andprivate schools. Shibusawa involved himself in some 600 projects related to education,social welfare and others. In addition, Shibusawa made efforts to promote the exchange of goods and good will across national boundaries through private-sector diplomacy. In 1902 he visited Germany, France and the United Kingdom.[8][9]
In 1908, Baron Shibusawa and members of theMitsui & Company, along with other Japanese business leaders greeted the first official U.S. Business delegation to visit Japan. This U.S. delegation was led byFrank A. Vanderlip accompanied by sixty members of theAssociated Chambers of Commerce of the Pacific Coast, a business organization founded prior toU.S. Chamber of Commerce. Eiichi Shibusawa had invited these U.S. representatives to visit Japan to bridge their nations diplomatically and to promote increased business and commerce.[10]
Shibusawa died at the age of ninety-one on November 11, 1931.
Shibusawa was nominated for theNobel Peace Prize in 1926 by the prime minister of Japan.[11]
Shibusawa Eiichi, mainly portrayed byRyo Yoshisawa, is the main protagonist in the 60thTaiga Drama,Reach Beyond The Blue Sky, aired during 2021 onNHK.
Shibusawa, along with many other famous historical figures from theMeiji Restoration, is also a supporting character in thehistorical fantasy novelTeito Monogatari byAramata Hiroshi. In the 1988 adaptation, known in the west asTokyo: The Last Megalopolis, he is portrayed by renowned Japanese actorKatsu Shintarō. In theanimated adaptation his voice is done byOsamu Saka.
Baron Shibusawa is highlighted in the historical novel The Emperor and the Spy[12] by Stan S. Katz. During the1923 Great Kantō earthquake, Baron Shibusawa is shown actively engaged in assisting many of the Japanese who were injured during that major disaster. The friendship between Baron Shibusawa and Prince Iesato Tokugawa is also presented in this novel.
