Sanji Muto - Sanji Muto

A businessman of the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, he was the manager of Kanebo (later Kanebo). He was born in Aichi Prefecture as the eldest son of the Sakuma family, a wealthy farming family from Mino Province (now Gifu Prefecture). After graduating from Keio University, he traveled to the United States and worked hard to study, and was adopted by the Muto family in 1887 (Meiji 20) shortly after returning to Japan. He worked as a translator for the Japan Gazette, and was also Goto Shojiro's secretary and participated in the Daido Unity Movement. After working for Iris Shokai, he joined Mitsui Bank in 1893, becoming assistant manager of the Kobe branch. The following year he moved to Kanegafuchi Spinning Co., where he served as manager of the Hyogo factory, rivaled Wada Toyoji, and served as manager of the headquarters and senior managing director, before becoming president of Kanebo in 1921 (Taisho 10). During this time, he experienced ups and downs, including the Suzuki Incident, which involved a plot to take over the company through stock trading, but he built the foundation for Kanebo's prosperity and became a leader in the spinning industry.

In 1919, he attended the First International Labor Congress in Washington as a representative of capitalists. He also founded the Business Comrades Association (later renamed the National Comrades Association) in 1923, claiming to purify the political world, and was elected to the House of Representatives three times. In 1932 (Showa 7), feeling the limitations of parliamentary activities, he returned to the business world and became president of the Jiji Shimpo newspaper, but was assassinated in 1934 in connection with the uncovering of the Teijin Scandal.

[Kato Kozaburo]

"The Complete Works of Sanji Muto, 9 volumes (1963-1966, Shinjusha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

明治・大正・昭和期の実業家で鐘紡(かねぼう)（のちカネボウ）の経営者。美濃国(みののくに)（岐阜県）の豪農佐久間家の長男として愛知県に生まれる。慶応義塾を卒業後、渡米して苦学を重ね、帰国直後の1887年（明治20）武藤家の養子となる。ジャパン・ガゼット社に翻訳記者として勤務、後藤象二郎の秘書ともなって大同団結運動にも参加。イリス商会を経て、1893年三井銀行に入り、神戸支店副支配人となる。翌年鐘淵紡績(かねがふちぼうせき)に移って兵庫工場支配人、和田豊治(わだとよじ)とライバルで本社支配人、専務取締役を経て、1921年（大正10）に鐘紡社長に就任。この間、株式売買による会社乗っ取りを策した鈴久事件(すずきゅうじけん)などで進退を繰り返したが、鐘紡の隆盛の基礎を築き、紡績業界の指導者となる。

　1919年にはワシントンの第1回国際労働会議に資本家代表として出席した。また政界浄化を振りかざして1923年には実業同志会（のち国民同志会と改称）を創立、衆議院議員当選3回。1932年（昭和7）議会活動の限界を感じてふたたび実業界に戻り、時事新報社社長となったが、帝人事件摘発に絡んで、1934年暗殺された。

［加藤幸三郎］

『『武藤山治全集』全9巻（1963～1966・新樹社）』

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