Year |
Age |
Events in the Life of Shibusawa Eiichi |
1840 |
0 |
Born in Chiaraijima (now part of Fukaya city, Saitama prefecture) on March 16th (13th day of 2nd month, Tenpo 11) |
1847 |
7 |
Studies the Chinese Classics with his cousin Odaka Junchu |
1854 |
14 |
Applies himself to the family businesses of agriculture and the production and sale of indigo |
1858 |
18 |
Marries his cousin Chiyo, Odaka Junchu's sister |
1863 |
23 |
Plans to capture Takasaki Castle and set fire to concessions in Yokohama but later cancels the plan and flees to Kyoto |
1864 |
24 |
Enters the service of Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu with a recommendation from Hiraoka Enshiro |
1865 |
25 |
Travels around Yoshinobu's domain to recruit infantry |
1866 |
26 |
Becomes a shogunal retainer when his lord Yoshinobu becomes shogun |
1867 |
27 |
Visits France and other European countries as a member of Tokugawa Akitake's delegation to the Universal Exposition in Paris |
1868 |
28 |
Returns from Europe because of the Meiji Restoration and goes to visit Yoshinobu in confinement in Shizuoka |
1869 |
29 |
Founds the Shoho Kaisho (the first joint-stock corporation in Japan) in Shizuoka
Becomes chief of the Tax Bureau and of the Kaisei Kakari (Reform Office) in the Ministry of Civil Affairs |
1870 |
30 |
Becomes officer in charge of the state-owned Tomioka Seishi-jo (Tomioka Silk Mill), Gunma prefecture |
1871 |
31 |
Publishes “Ryukai Ryakusoku,” an instruction manual on how to found a company
Appointed to post of daijo in the Ministry of Finance
Concurrently made head of the Currency Office in the Printing Bureau of the Ministry of Finance |
1872 |
32 |
Named a Ministry of Finance official of the third rank
Appointed to post of assistant minister (shoho) in charge of administrative affairs |
1873 |
33 |
Resigns from the Ministry of Finance
Becomes sokan-yaku (superintendent) of Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Ginko (First National Bank)
Founds Shoshi Kaisha (Paper Manufacturing Company) [later becomes Oji Seishi (Oji Paper Manufacturing Company) of which Eiichi becomes president] |
1875 |
35 |
Becomes president of the Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Ginko |
1876 |
36 |
Becomes secretary general (later president) of the Tokyo Yoiku-in, a welfare institution managed by Tokyo prefecture for orphans, elderly, and people with disabilities |
1877 |
37 |
Founds and becomes president of the Takuzen-kai (later the Tokyo Bankers' Association) |
1878 |
38 |
Becomes chairman of the newly founded Tokyo Shoho Kaigi-sho (Tokyo Chamber of Commerce) |
1879 |
39 |
Named chairman of the Tokyo Committee to Welcome General Grant (18th President of the United States) |
1880 |
40 |
Becomes a member of the newly founded Hakuai-sha [later Nippon Sekijuji-sha (Japan Red Cross)] |
1881 |
41 |
Begins lecturing on Japanese finance at the University of Tokyo (lectures for three years) |
1882 |
42 |
Wife Chiyo dies |
1883 |
43 |
Marries second wife Kaneko
Founds (later becomes advisor to) Osaka Boseki Kaisha (Osaka Spinning Company) |
1884 |
44 |
Becomes board member (and later director) of Nihon Tetsudo Kaisha (Japan Railway Company) |
1885 |
45 |
Nippon Yusen Kaisha (Japan Mail Shipping Company) founded (later becomes director) |
1886 |
46 |
Ryumonsha established |
1887 |
47 |
Founds (later becomes chairman of) Nihon Renga Seizo Kaisha (Japan Brick Manufacturing Company)
Founds (later becomes chairman of) the Teikoku Hoteru (Imperial Hotel) |
1888 |
48 |
Founds (later becomes chairman of the board of) Sapporo Biru Kaisha (Sapporo Brewery Company)
Becomes auditor (later president) of the newly opened Tokyo Jogakkan School for Young Ladies |
1889 |
49 |
Becomes committee member (later chairman) of Tokyo Ishikawajima Zosen-jo (Tokyo Ishikawajima Shipyard Company) |
1890 |
50 |
Named to the Kizokuin Giin (House of Peers) |
1891 |
51 |
Becomes committee chairman of the newly founded Tokyo Tegata Kokanjo (Tokyo Clearing House) |
1892 |
52 |
Becomes director (later chairman) of the newly established Tokyo Chochiku Ginko (Tokyo Savings Bank) |
1894 |
54 |
Becomes chairman of Tokyo Gasu Kaisha (Tokyo Gas Company) |
1895 |
55 |
Becomes auditor (later advisor) of the newly formed Hokuetsu Tetsudo Kaisha (Hokuetsu Railway Company) |
1896 |
56 |
Becomes director of the newly established Nihon Seito Kaisha (Japan Sugar Refining Company)
Establishes Fukaya Ginko (Fukaya Bank) [later Dai Hachiju-go Ginko (85th Bank)]
Dai-Ichi Kokuritsu Ginko becomes Dai-Ichi Ginko (Dai-Ichi Bank) |
1897 |
57 |
Founds Shibusawa Soko-bu (Shibusawa Warehouse Department, later Shibusawa Warehouse Company) |
1900 |
60 |
Granted title of Baron |
1901 |
61 |
Becomes auditor (later president) of the newly opened Nippon Joshi Daigakko (Japan Women's University)
Moves to Asukayama, Tokyo |
1902 |
62 |
Visits the United States and Europe and meets with President Theodore Roosevelt |
1904 |
64 |
Long recovery period after complications from a bad cold |
1906 |
66 |
Founds (later becomes advisor to) Keihan Denki-tetsudo Kaisha (Keihan Electric Railway Company)
Founds (later becomes advisor to) Meiji Seito Kaisha (Meiji Sugar Manufacturing Company) |
1907 |
67 |
Founds (later becomes chairman of) Teikoku Gekijo Kaisha (Imperial Theatre Company) |
1908 |
68 |
Honorary Commercial Commissioners of the Chambers of Commerce of the Pacific Coast of the United States visit Japan |
1909 |
69 |
Resigns from management of many companies and organizations
Visits the United States as the head of the Honorary Commercial Commissioners of Japan and meets with President Taft |
1910 |
70 |
Becomes vice-chairman of the newly established Seisan Chosa-kai (Production Investigation Committee) |
1912 |
72 |
Becomes committee chairman emeritus of the New York Nippon Kyokai Kyosan Kai (New York Japan Society Cooperation Association) |
1913 |
73 |
Becomes vice-president (later president) of the newly founded Nippon Kekkaku Yobo-kai (Japan Tuberculosis Prevention Association)
Becomes president of the newly founded Nippon Jitsugyo Kyokai (Japan Business Association) |
1914 |
74 |
Becomes advisor to the newly established Chu-Nichi Jitsugyo Kaisha (Sino-Japanese Corporation) and visits China to establish business alliances |
1915 |
75 |
Travels to the Panama Canal Opening Exhibition
Meets with President Wilson |
1916 |
76 |
Resigns presidency of Dai-Ichi Ginko and other companies thereby removing himself from many business circles
Nichi-Bei Kankei Iinkai (Japanese American Relations Standing Committee) organized |
1917 |
77 |
Becomes vice-president emeritus of the newly founded Nichi-Bei Kyokai (Japan - U.S. Society) |
1918 |
78 |
Writes and edits Tokugawa Yoshinobu Ko Den (A Biography of Lord Tokugawa Yoshinobu) |
1919 |
79 |
Becomes vice-president of the newly founded Kyocho-kai (Cooperation Society), a society aiming for cooperation between capitalists and laborers |
1920 |
80 |
Becomes president of the newly founded Kokusai Remmei Kyokai (League of Nations Association of Japan)
Becomes president of the newly founded Nikka Jitsugyo Kyokai (Sino-Japanese Business Association)
Promoted to rank of Viscount |
1921 |
81 |
Visits the United States to devise measures to quell anti-Japanese feeling and meets with President Harding |
1922 |
82 |
Organizes a celebration for the 75th birthday of Thomas A. Edison |
1923 |
83 |
Becomes vice-president of the newly founded Dai-Shinsai Zengo-kai (Post-earthquake Reconstruction Association) |
1925 |
85 |
Founds Nihon Musen Denshin Kaisha (Japan Wireless Telegraph Company) |
1926 |
86 |
Becomes council chairman of the newly established Nippon Taiheiyo Mondai Chosa-kai (Japan Institute of Pacific Relations)
Becomes advisor to the newly established Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) |
1927 |
87 |
Founds and becomes president of the Nippon Kokusai Jido Shinzen-kai (Japan International Children's Friendship Society) |
1928 |
88 |
Founds Nippon Koku Yuso Kaisha (Japan Airlines) |
1929 |
89 |
Becomes chairman of the newly founded Chuo Mojin Fukushi Kyokai (Central Association for Welfare of the Blind) |
1930 |
90 |
Becomes honorary member of the Nippon Keizai Remmei (Japan Economic Federation) |
1931 |
91 |
Dies on November 11th, at his Asukayama residence in Tokyo |