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京都織物株式会社五十年史 / 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション

Manufacturing industry

Shibusawa, based at the First National Bank, focused on the creation and development of corporations through joint-stock companies. In the manufacturing industry, Shibusawa pioneered modern industry by introducing Western technology and knowledge, starting with a paper company (Oji Paper Co., Ltd.).

Shibusawa believed that domestic production of Western paper was important for the circulation of banknotes and bonds and for the publication of newspapers and magazines, both of which were necessary for Japan's modernization. In 1873 (Meiji 6), Japan’s first paper manufacturing company, the Paper Company (Oji Paper Co., Ltd), was established led by Shibusawa and others. The image shows the rice paper finishing room at the Miyakojima Plant.

Soichiro Asano (1848-1930), who was involved in coal trading, was promoted by Eiichi Shibusawa after delivering coal to a paper company in Oji. Through Shibusawa's referral, Asano acquired a government-owned cement plant and established a cement company.

Kyoto's dyeing and weaving industry was one of the first to adopt Western-style dyeing and weaving methods under the Kyoto Prefectural government's industrial promotion policy. In order to establish a textile company with large-scale Western-style facilities, Shibusawa and others purchased Oridono (weaving factory) and opened Kyoto Textile Co., Ltd. in 1887 (Meiji 20).

Hanji Soma (1869-1946), who studied the sugar industry in Europe and the United States, established Meiji Sugar Manufacturing in Taiwan in 1906 (Meiji 39) with the cooperation of Shibusawa and others.

  • 帝国製麻株式会社 編,帝国製麻

    In order to weather the depression following the Sino-Japanese War, several hemp companies merged, with the involvement of Shibusawa, to form Teikoku Seima Kaisha, Ltd. in 1907 (Meiji 40).

  • 大日本製糖株式会社 編,大日本製糖

    After researching the sugar industry in the South Seas, Shibusawa established Nippon Seito (Sugar Refining) in 1895 (Meiji 28) with Matsumoto Jutaro and others.

  • 浜田徳太郎 著,大日本麦酒

    Shibusawa, together with Asano Soichiro and others, purchased the Sapporo Brewery and opened Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd. (later to become the Dainippon Beer Brewery) in 1887 (Meiji 20).

  • 東京石川島造船所 編,東京石川島造船所

    Shibusawa was instrumental in the establishment of Ishikawajima Shipyard Co., Ltd. in 1889 (Meiji 22). After the company was reorganized as Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipyard Co., Ltd. in 1893 (Meiji 26), Shibusawa served as chairman of the board.

  • 平野力 編,東京帽子

    With the increasing demand for hats due to the westernization of Japan, Masuda Takashi (1848-1938) founded Nippon Seibo Kaisha together with Shibusawa. Tokyo Hat K.K. was established in 1892 (Meiji 25) to succeed this company, which had been dissolved due to poor performance.

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Last updated
December 8, 2022