Takashi Masuda

Businessman. The father of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and founder of the Mitsui Zaibatsu. Born in Aikawa, Sado to a family of local officials. Spent his childhood in Hakodate and Edo due to his father's job transfers, where he learned English. Became an interpreter for the Edo Shogunate, and traveled to Europe as an attendant on a mission in 1863 (Bunkyu 3). After the Meiji Restoration, he learned trade at a foreign trading post. Recognized by Inoue Kaoru, he joined the Ministry of Finance in 1872 (Meiji 5) and became head of the Mint, but retired the following year along with Inoue. He participated in the Senshu Company founded by Inoue, and when it was absorbed into the Mitsui family in 1876 and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. was established, he transferred to that company. He contributed to its development as its chief executive officer. While he focused on developing human resources, he also successfully sold off the Miike coal mine, laying the foundations for the Miike mine. After the death of Nakamigawa Hikojiro, as Managing Director of the Administration Department, he revised Mitsui's management direction in a more commercial direction. In 1909 (Meiji 42), he established Mitsui General Partnership, and as chairman, he incorporated the bank, commercial goods, and mines into corporations, establishing the Mitsui zaibatsu system. After retiring in 1914 (Taisho 3), he retired to Odawara, where he devoted himself to businesses such as poultry farming and fish farming. Nicknamed Don'o, he left a name for himself as a leading tea master and collector of art, including tea utensils.

[Maeda Kazutoshi]

"The Autobiography of Takao Masuda by Minoru Nagai (1939, Uchida Rokakuen)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

実業家。三井物産の育ての親であり、三井財閥の形成者。佐渡相川(あいかわ)の地役人の家に生まれる。父の転勤で箱館(はこだて)、江戸で少年期を送り、英語を学ぶ。江戸幕府の通訳となり、1863年（文久3）使節団の随員として渡欧。維新後に外国商館で貿易を習う。井上馨(いのうえかおる)に認められて1872年（明治5）大蔵省に入り造幣権頭となるが、翌年井上とともに退官。井上の創立する先収(せんしゅう)会社に参画し、それが1876年三井家に吸収されて三井物産が設立されるや同社に転じた。経営の最高責任者としてその発展に寄与した。人材の育成に力を注ぐ一方、三池炭鉱の払下げを成功させ、三池鉱山の基礎を築いた。中上川彦次郎(なかみがわひこじろう)没後、管理部専務理事として三井の経営路線を商業主義的方向に修正した。1909年（明治42）三井合名会社を設立、理事長として銀行、物産、鉱山を株式会社化し、三井の財閥体制を確立した。1914年（大正3）退任後、小田原に隠棲(いんせい)し、養鶏、養魚などの事業に尽力した。鈍翁と称し、有数の茶人、茶器などの美術品収集家として名を残した。

［前田和利］

『長井実著『自叙益田孝翁伝』（1939・内田老鶴園）』

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