Asano Zaibatsu

A conglomerate built by Soichiro Asano in one generation. Asano Cement (later Nippon Cement, now Taiheiyo Cement) was its core company. In 1884 (Meiji 17), Asano succeeded in acquiring the government-run Fukagawa Cement Factory, which he developed into the leading cement manufacturer in Japan. He also diversified the family's business network into coal mining, shipping, harbor engineering, shipbuilding, steel, electricity, and trade, developing it into a conglomerate with 75 affiliated companies and a total capital of about 500 million yen (around 1929). Other than Asano Cement, other major directly-affiliated companies included Iwaki Coal Mine, Toyo Kisen, Tokyo Bay Reclamation, Asano Shipyard, Asano Bussan, and Kanto Hydroelectric Power. In 1914 (Taisho 3), Asano Limited Partnership Company was established as a holding company, which was reorganized and renamed the Asano Family Joint Stock Company in 1918, establishing a system to oversee the diversified group of companies. However, Asano's business was heavily influenced by Zenjiro Yasuda, head of the Yasuda zaibatsu, especially in terms of finance. After Soichiro's death, the zaibatsu was inherited by his eldest son Taijiro and other members of the family, and developed into ceramics and metals industries, but was dissolved after World War II by order of GHQ (Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers).

[Yoichi Kobayakawa]

"Takahashi Kamekichi, 'Anatomy of the Japanese Zaibatsu' (1930, Chuokoron-Shinsha)" ▽ "Holding Company Reorganization Committee ed., 'Japanese Zaibatsu and Their Dissolution', vol. 2 and supplementary volume 1 (1973-1974, Hara Shobo)" ▽ "Saito Ken, 'No Poverty Can Keep Up With Earning Money - Asano Soichiro and the Asano Zaibatsu' (1998, Toyo Keizai Shinposha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

浅野総一郎が一代で築いた財閥。浅野セメント（後の日本セメント、現太平洋セメント）を中核企業とした。1884年（明治17）官営深川セメント工場の払下げに成功した浅野は、これを国内随一のセメント・メーカーに発展させる一方、同家の事業網を炭鉱、海運、港湾土木、造船、製鉄、電力、貿易などへと多角的に拡充し、関係会社75、傘下総資本金約5億円（1929ころ）の財閥へ発展させた。浅野セメント以外のおもな直系会社には、磐城炭礦(いわきたんこう)、東洋汽船、東京湾埋立、浅野造船所、浅野物産、関東水力電気などがあった。1914年（大正3）持株会社として浅野合資会社を設立、1918年これを改組・改称して浅野同族株式会社とし、多角的企業群を統轄する体制を整備した。もっとも、浅野の事業は、金融面ではとくに安田財閥の総帥安田善次郎に負うところが大きかった。総一郎の死後、同財閥は長男泰治郎(たいじろう)ら一族が継承し、窯業、金属工業を両翼に発展したが、第二次世界大戦後GHQ（連合国最高司令部）の指令で解体された。

［小早川洋一］

『高橋亀吉著『日本財閥の解剖』（1930・中央公論社）』▽『持株会社整理委員会編『日本財閥とその解体』2巻・別巻1（1973～1974・原書房）』▽『斎藤憲著『稼ぐに追いつく貧乏なし――浅野総一郎と浅野財閥』（1998・東洋経済新報社）』

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