渋沢栄一/ 資料/ 英文
渋沢栄一/ 資料/ 英文
渋沢栄一/ 資料/ 日本語文
アメリカの南北戦争のグラント将軍との接点
日本の資本主義の父: 渋沢栄一
Shibusawa Eiichi: Father of Japanese Capitalism
↑渋沢栄一に関する、リンク集、英文記事、英文の解説などはこちら
Shibusawa Eiichi, 1st Viscount Shibusawa (渋沢 栄一, March 16, 1840 – November 11, 1931) was a Japanese industrialist widely known today as the "father of Japanese capitalism". He spearheaded the introduction of 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. 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 Japan Red Cross.
Another notable aspect of Shibusawa's career is that, despite being the founder of hundreds of corporations, he refused to maintain a controlling stake in these corporations, effectively preventing himself from forming a zaibatsu. What is known as the Shibusawa zaibatsu was a holding company to look after his estate for his family. The Shibusawa Zaibatsu did not hold any controlling stake in any companies. Despite his lowly origin as a farmer, he was granted the title of Viscount, while all other zaibatsu founders were awarded the title of Baron. He was also awarded Shōnii, Second Honour under the ritsuryō rank system, which is usually given to high-ranking nobility and prime ministers.
Life
Shibusawa was born on March 16, 1840 in a farmhouse in Chiaraijima (located in the present-day city of Fukaya, Saitama prefecture). As a boy, he learned reading and writing from his father. He grew up helping with the family business of dry field farming, indigo production and sale, and silk raising and later studied the Confucian classics and the history of Japan under Odaka Junchu, a scholar who was his cousin.
Under the influence of sonnō jōi (expel the barbarians; revere the emperor) sentiment, he formulated a plan along with cousins and friends to capture Takasaki Castle and set fires in the foreign settlement in Yokohama. Ultimately, however, this plan was canceled and he moved on to Kyoto.
Shibusawa left his hometown at the age of twenty-three, and entered the service of Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu (then in line for the position of shogun). He distinguished himself by his work in strengthening the household finances of the Hitotsubashi family.
When he was twenty-seven years old, he visited France and other European countries as a member of Tokugawa Akitake's Delegation to the Paris World Exposition. In this trip Shibusawa observed modern European societies and cultures for the first time, and realized the importance of industrial and economic development.
After returning from Europe at the news of the change of governments now known as the Meiji Restoration, he established the Shōhō Kaishō, one of the first joint stock companies in Japan, in Shizuoka prefecture. Afterwards, he was invited by the Meiji government to become a member of the Ministry of Finance, where he became a driving force in the building of a modern Japan as head of the Kaisei Kakari, or office of the Ministry of Finance in charge of reform.
In 1873 Shibusawa resigned from the Ministry of Finance and became the president of the Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Ginkō (lit. "First National Bank"). This was Japan's first modern bank, established under his own guidance while still employed by the Ministry
of Finance. With this bank as a base, Shibusawa devoted himself to founding
and encouraging businesses of all sorts.
Shibusawa was an advocate throughout his life of the idea that good ethics and business should be in harmony. The number of enterprises in which he was involved as founder or supporter is said to exceed 500, and includes Mizuho Financial Group, The 77 Bank, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Imperial Hotel, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Tokyo Gas, Toyobo, Keihan Electric Railway, Taiheiyo Cement, Oji Paper Company, Sapporo Breweries, and NYK Line. Moreover, he spearheaded many works for the betterment of society, and was an enthusiastic supporter of education, especially higher education in the field of business such as current Hitotsubashi University and current Tokyo Keizai University, higher education for women, and private schools. Shibusawa involved himself in some 600 projects related to education, social welfare, and others.
In addition, Shibusawa made efforts to promote exchange of goods and goodwill across national boundaries through private-sector diplomacy. Numerous guests from overseas visited the Shibusawa residence in Asukayama, where they talked candidly with him.
Having lived through a time of great change and having stood personally in the vanguard of change in a new era, Shibusawa died at the age of ninety-one on November 11, 1931.
Shibusawa Memorial Museum
The Shibusawa Memorial Museum collects and displays documents and artifacts from the life of Shibusawa Eiichi, a leader in business and finance who fostered the growth and development of the modern Japanese economy. Throughout his life he advocated for the harmony of morality and economy; playing an important role not only in the business world but in the fields of social welfare, education and private-sector diplomacy as well.
Adjoining the main museum building is the tranquil Old Shibusawa Garden. The garden and two structures of the original Shibusawa estate, the Bankoro Cottage and the Seien Bunko Library, date from the Taisho era (1912-26) and both buildings have been designated as Important Cultural Properties by the Japanese government.
The Seien Bunko and Bankoro will be open to the public on Saturdays from 12:30 to 3:45pm.
渋沢栄一/ 資料/ 日本語文
渋沢栄一…ウィキペディアより
社会活動
渋沢は実業界の中でも最も社会活動に熱心で、東京市からの要請で養育院の院長を務めたほか、東京慈恵会、日本赤十字社、癩予防協会の設立などに携わり財団法人聖路加国際病院初代理事長、財団法人滝乃川学園初代理事長、YMCA環太平洋連絡会議の日本側議長などもした。
日露戦争開戦の前年にあたる明治36年(1903年)、対印貿易の重要性を認識していた渋沢は、大隈重信らとともに日印協会の設立に携わり[3]、第3代会長をつとめた。
関東大震災後の復興のためには、大震災善後会副会長となり寄付金集めなどに奔走した。
当時は実学教育に関する意識が薄く、実業教育が行われていなかったが、渋沢は教育にも力を入れ森有礼と共に商法講習所(現一橋大学)、大倉喜八郎と大倉商業学校(現東京経済大学)の設立に協力したほか、二松學舍(現二松學舍大学)の第3代舎長に就任した。学校法人国士舘(創立者・柴田徳次郎)の設立・経営に携わり、井上馨に乞われ同志社大学(創立者・新島襄)への寄付金の取り纏めに関わった。また、男尊女卑の影響が残っていた女子の教育の必要性を考え、伊藤博文、勝海舟らと共に女子教育奨励会を設立、日本女子大学校・東京女学館の設立に携わった。
また日本国際児童親善会を設立し、アメリカの人形(青い目の人形)と日本人形(市松人形)を交換するなどして、交流を深めることに尽力している。1931年には中国で起こった水害のために、中華民国水災同情会会長を務め義援金を募るなどし、民間外交の先駆者としての側面もある。なお渋沢は1926年と1927年のノーベル平和賞の候補にもなっている。
政治活動
明治22年(1889年)から同37年(1904年)の15年間に渡り、深川区会議員を務め、区会議長にも選出され、深川の発展の為に尽くした。
また、この間に第1回衆議院議員総選挙に出馬の意思表明をしなかったものの東京5区(本所区、深川区)にて94票を獲得、有効票とされ次点となった。1890年9月29日には貴族院議員に勅選され、同年12月15日の第1回帝国議会貴族院本会議に出席したが、以降は出席せずに翌年1891年10月29日に辞任した。
1901年5月16日には井上馨内閣に大蔵大臣としての入閣を求められたが、これも辞退している。
道徳経済合一説
大正5年(1916年)に『論語と算盤』を著し、「道徳経済合一説」という理念を打ち出した。幼少期に学んだ『論語』を拠り所に倫理と利益の両立を掲げ、経済を発展させ、利益を独占するのではなく、国全体を豊かにする為に、富は全体で共有するものとして社会に還元することを説くと同時に自身にも心がけた。 『論語と算盤』にはその理念が端的に次のように述べられている。
「富をなす根源は何かと言えば、仁義道徳。正しい道理の富でなければ、その富は完全に永続することができぬ。」
そして、道徳と離れた欺瞞、不道徳、権謀術数的な商才は、真の商才ではないと言っている。また、同書の次の言葉には、栄一の経営哲学のエッセンスが込められている。
「事柄に対し如何にせば道理にかなうかをまず考え、しかしてその道理にかなったやり方をすれば国家社会の利益となるかを考え、さらにかくすれば自己のためにもなるかと考える。そう考えてみたとき、もしそれが自己のためにはならぬが、道理にもかない、国家社会をも利益するということなら、余は断然自己を捨てて、道理のあるところに従うつもりである。」
幕末に栄一と同じ観点から備中松山藩の藩政改革にあたった陽明学者・山田方谷の門人で、「義利合一論」(義=倫理・利=利益)を論じた三島中洲と知り合うと、両者は意気投合して栄一は三島と深く交わるようになる。栄一は、三島の死後に彼が創立した二松学舎の経営に深く関わることになる。