Origins & Early Life

Shibusawa Eiichi, 1st Viscount Shibusawa (渋沢 栄一; 16 March 1840 – 11 November 1931) was a Japanese business magnate widely known today as the "Father of Japanese capitalism", having introduced Western capitalism to Japan after the Meiji Restoration. He introduced many economic reforms including use of 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 bank was aptly named The First National Bank (Dai Ichi Kokuritsu Ginkō, now merged into Mizuho Bank) and had the power to issue its own notes.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Through this bank, he founded hundreds of other joint stock corporations in Japan. Many of these companies still survive to this day as quoted companies in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, which Shibusawa also founded. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry was founded by him as well. He was also involved in the foundation of many hospitals, schools, universities (including the first women's university), the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo and charitable organizations including the Japanese Red Cross Society. Another notable aspect of Shibusawa's career is that, despite being the founder of hundreds...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Auguste Rodin — Contemporary (Born in 1840) (1840): Founder of modern sculpture, celebrated for naturalism and emotional depth.
• Caspar David Friedrich — Contemporary (Died in 1840) (1840): Pioneering German Romantic landscape painter known for sublime, spiritual depictions of nature.
• Claude Monet — Contemporary (Born in 1840) (1840): Founder of Impressionism, Monet captured the fleeting perception of light and nature.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Contemporary (Born in 1931) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Albert A. Michelson — Contemporary (Died in 1931) (1931): Pioneering American experimental physicist known for light speed measurements.
• Alfred Brendel — Contemporary (Born in 1931) (1931): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• Aubrey Beardsley — Shared historical date (03-16 · Died) (1898): Pioneering English illustrator known for decadent, erotic black ink drawings.
• Austen Chamberlain — Shared historical date (03-16 · Died) (1937): Influential British statesman, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and key figure in early 20th-century politics.
• Bartolomé de las Casas — Shared historical date (11-11 · Born) (1484): Spanish reformer and writer who fiercely denounced the atrocities against Indigenous peoples in the Americas.
• Benode Behari Mukherjee — Shared historical date (11-11 · Died) (1980): Pioneer of Indian Modern Art, known for Contextual Modernism and murals.
• 1840 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1840
• March 16 (03-16) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 16
• 1931 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1931
• November 11 (11-11) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 11