{Inter} Cultural Japan

Shibusawa Eiichi, the man behind Oji paper, was an early proponent of free market enterprise in Japan. He played a central role in the establishment of modern industry in Japan and is honored with a beautiful, new museum in Asukayama Park, the Shibusawa Memorial Museum.

[Seien Bunko Library in the Old Shibusawa Garden. Photo © Ad Blankestijn]

Shibusawa Eiichi (1840–1931) was born into a farming family in Saitama prefecture. In 1864 he became a retainer of a branch family of the ruling Tokugawa and three years later we find him as aide-de-camp to the shogun’s younger brother, Tokugawa Akitake. In 1867 Shibusawa Eiichi had the privilege to accompany the delegation led by Akitake to the Paris International Exhibition, for him a chance to see modern Western technology and to study the functioning of Western economies at first hand.

After the Meiji Restoration in 1968, Shibusawa joined the new Ministry of Finance and played an important role in the introduction of a modern banking system in Japan. In 1873 he left the ministry to become president of the Dai-Ichi Bank and Oji Paper, two companies set up by him in the form of modern corporations, then still a novelty in Japan. In the 1880s and 1890s he was involved in the organization of dozens of other enterprises in textiles, shipping and rail transport, an example that was soon emulated by other entrepreneurs. Shibusawa was also instrumental in establishing the first Chamber of Commerce of Japan. Later in life, he became known as a philanthropist thanks to the founding of schools and other welfare activities. Interestingly, Shibusawa was a proponent of free enterprise and stands in contrast to the leaders of the big conglomerates, the zaibatsu, who often tried to dominate via political ties and discriminatory practices.

At the entrance of the 2nd floor exhibition hall visitors are greeted by Shibusawa Eiichi’s life-size photograph, taken when he was 27 and about to go to Paris. At his back is a picture of the Dai-Ichi Bank established by him. A monitor shows a short (Japanese) film about his life, but a more elaborate film can be seen in the conference hall downstairs. Shibusawa’s life is then traced in a series of panels, with as materials mainly photographs, documents and letters.

Opposite the museum is the Old Shibusawa Garden, which is freely open in the daytime and contains a Western-style teahouse (built in 1917) used by Shibusawa to entertain guests as well as the large concrete Seien Bunko, a library donated to Shibusawa by supporters when he was promoted to baron in 1925. It has beautiful stained-glass windows but can presently only be seen from the outside.

Tel: 03-3910-0005

Hours: 10:00-17:00. CL Mon, day after NH, NY.

Access: 5 min walk from Oji St.

Bookmark with Del.icio.us - Digg it