Nisso Conglomerate - Nisso Conglomerate

This large conglomerate was built by Nakano Tomonori from Nippon Soda (founded in 1920), and is one of the so-called new zaibatsu. The foundation of this conglomerate was the use of cheap electricity, i.e. the electrochemical industry, and by developing it from electrolytic caustic soda, the effective use of its by-product chlorine, and electrolytic zinc smelting, it had established a conglomerate structure by 1937 (Showa 12) with Nippon Soda at its core and four major subsidiaries: Kyushu Soda, Nisso Pulp & Paper, Nisso Steel, and Nisso Mining. In 1937, it controlled 15 direct subsidiaries and 12 sub-subsidiaries, with the total nominal capital of these companies amounting to 240 million yen. However, the formation of the conglomerate was rapid (the number of subsidiaries increased sharply from 1934-35), and due mainly to excessive expansion of the business and a lack of a proper management organization, management began to deteriorate from around 1938-39, and Nakano was forced out of his position as president at the end of 1940. After that, the conglomerate's structure was downsized and streamlined by the Industrial Bank of Japan (now Mizuho Bank, Mizuho Corporate Bank), which was the main lender.

[Masahiro Shitaya]

"Haruki Miyake, 'The New Conglomerates Reader' (1937, Shunjusha) " "Showa History and the New Zaibatsu' (Kyoikusha History Paperback)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中野友礼(とものり)が日本曹達(ソーダ)（1920創設）をもとに築き上げた一大コンツェルンで、いわゆる新興財閥の一つ。同コンツェルンの基礎は低廉な電力の活用、すなわち電気化学工業であり、とくに電解法カ性ソーダ、その副産塩素の有効利用、および電気亜鉛製錬を出発点とする展開によって、ほぼ1937年（昭和12）ごろまでには、日本曹達を中核として、九州曹達、日曹人絹パルプ、日曹製鋼、日曹鉱業の四大子会社を軸とするコンツェルン体制を整えた。37年当時、直系子会社15社、孫会社12社を支配し、それらの公称資本金総額は2億4000万円を数えた。しかし、同コンツェルンの形成は急激（子会社数が急増するのは1934～35年から）であり、過度に膨張しすぎた事業と管理組織未整備を主原因として、38～39年ごろから経営は悪化し、40年末には中野は社長の座を追われた。以後、主力融資機関であった日本興業銀行（現みずほ銀行、みずほコーポレート銀行）の手によってコンツェルン体制は縮小整理されていった。

［下谷政弘］

『三宅晴輝著『新興コンツェルン読本』（1937・春秋社）』▽『宇田川勝著『昭和史と新興財閥』（教育社歴史新書）』

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