Shibusawa Eiichi (1840–1931) was a Japanese industrialist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist widely regarded as the “father of Japanese capitalism.” He played a central role in the modernization of Japan's economy, helping to establish and develop more than 500 companies and economic organizations, including the First National Bank, as well as institutions such as the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Beyond business, he supported hundreds of educational, charitable, and public-interest initiatives. His best-known work, The Analects and the Abacus, argues that ethical principles and sound business practices are mutually reinforcing, and it remains one of the foundational texts of Japanese management thought.
