Sumitomo Biographies

The Sumitomo family grew dramatically during and after the Meiji period. The foundation for this was laid by the first soriji (director-general), Saihei Hirose. In 1865, at the age of 38, Hirose became manager of the Besshi Copper Mines. During the Meiji Restoration, the mines faced the threat of being seized by the new government, but he argued, "the Besshi Copper Mines have been managed independently by the Sumitomo family," and in 1873 the new government officially granted Sumitomo permission to continue managing the mines. He also worked hard to implement copper mine management reconstruction; he introduced dynamite mining for the first time in Japan, which significantly increased copper production. These achievements protected the foundation of the Sumitomo family and paved the way for further development.

Later, in 1877, Hirose became soridainin (prime agent) of the Sumitomo family and played an important role in the Osaka business world during the Meiji period, contributing to the establishment of the Osaka Stock Exchange and the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is also said to be the first civilian to receive a decoration (the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class). Hirose's management skills and innovative spirit contributed greatly to Sumitomo's business expansion.

Furthermore, he valued employees and focused on improving the working environment. This “management that values people” established a stable organizational culture at Sumitomo, which became the foundation for its later growth. Hirose's achievements went beyond commercial success; he contributed to the modernization of the Japanese economy and had a positive impact on the way companies are managed.