Shishaku Shibusawa Eiichi

Shibusawa Eiichi was a Japanese government official who helped establish the reforms that put Japan on a firm financial footing in the Meiji period (1868–1912). He introduced many economic concepts from Western capitalism to Japan, such as double-entry accounting, joint-stock corporations, and modern note-issuing banks. He founded the first modern bank based on joint stock ownership in Japan, the First National Bank, which had the power to issue its own notes. Through this bank, he founded hundreds of other joint stock corporations in Japan, covering various industries such as textiles, railways, shipping, insurance, mining, and manufacturing. Many of these companies still survive to this day as quoted companies in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which Shibusawa also founded. He also helped establish the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the first women's university, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, and many hospitals, schools, and charitable organizations. He was also involved in promoting international trade and cooperation, and supported the independence movements of Asian countries from colonial rule. He was widely known as the "father of Japanese capitalism" and was respected for his ethical and social values. He was granted the title of Viscount and awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure and the Grand Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers. He died at the age of 91 and was buried at the Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo.