Kagami Kamakichi

A businessman active from the Meiji to prewar Showa periods. Born as the second son of a farmer in Gifu Prefecture. After graduating from Tokyo Higher Commercial School (now Hitotsubashi University), he joined Tokio Marine Insurance Company in 1891 (Meiji 24). He studied insurance business in London, and based on his findings, he successfully restructured the company by streamlining its overseas agencies, amending its accounting system, and reducing its capital. After serving as head of the head office sales department and senior managing director, he became chairman of the board of directors in 1925 (Taisho 14). He contributed to the company's development throughout his life, helping to turn it into a major global insurance company. He held executive positions at insurance companies such as Meiji Fire Insurance Co., Ltd., and was a leading executive in the non-life insurance industry, helping to establish and operate the Japan Fire Insurance Association and the Nippon Marine Insurance Association. In his later years, he held concurrent positions as president of Nippon Yusen Kaisha and director of Mitsubishi's headquarters. He also played an active role in the financial world as a representative of Mitsubishi-affiliated companies, serving as a member of the Cabinet Council and an advisor to the Ministry of Finance, and becoming a managing director of the Japan Economic Federation. He was also appointed by imperial decree to the House of Peers.

[Kazuo Sugiyama]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治から昭和戦前期に活躍した実業家。岐阜県の農家の次男に生まれる。東京高等商業学校（現一橋大学）を卒業し、1891年（明治24）に東京海上保険会社へ入社。ロンドンにおいて保険業務を研究し、その成果に基づき、同社の海外代理店の整理、決算制度の改正、資本金の減少などを行い、経営再建に成功した。本店営業部長、専務取締役を経て、1925年（大正14）取締役会長になり、終生同社の発展に貢献し、同社を世界的な大保険会社に育て上げた。明治火災など保険会社の重役を兼ねたのをはじめ、損害保険業界の指導的経営者として、大日本火災保険協会や日本海上保険協会などの設立や運営に尽くした。晩年には日本郵船の社長や三菱(みつびし)本社の取締役などを兼任した。さらに三菱系企業の代表として財界に活躍し、内閣審議会委員や大蔵省顧問を務め、日本経済連盟常務理事ともなった。貴族院議員にも勅選されている。

［杉山和雄］

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