The Washington herald., 1908-05-01
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Special Correspondence The Washington Herald.
Tokyo. March 1S.-The Mitsui family OF
Japan is one Of the oldest and strongest
business concerns in the world 1t has
a finger I'm almost every kind OF enter
prise in the Island Empire, and its rami-
ncauons extend 10 all parts of the globe.
In financial strength it is second only to
the imperial household. It has its own
fleet of steamers to carry its great COM
merce, which is so extensive that It
amounts to one-seventh of the entire for
eign trade of Japan. 1t mines one-third
Of the whole annual coal production OF
the country. and its trade in cotton yarn
constitutes one-third of the nations total
output
According to the historians of the
Mitsui family, their early ancestors were
great warriors. But on one occasion, sew
eral hundred years ago. the leader OF
their clan was soundly trounced by
vicious rival, wherefore he turned his
back upon warlike pursuits and opened
a dry goods store. From that time on the
energies Of the clan were applied to COM
mercial pursuits. with such success that
the business founded by the defeated
brave is now one OF the strong pillars OF
the empire. The early Mitsui traders
were the pioneers in the idea of cash re-
failing: they organized a plan for the
collection and remittance OF money, and
established the first carriers business in
Japan,
AS early as 1857 the NIitsui family WAS
appointed by the government as its pur-
veyOr and controller OF public exchange
In recognition OF the services rendered at
this time vast estate in Tokyo was con-
ferred upon the clan. The Mitsuis have
continued to render valuable service to
the state For two centuries they were
loyal to the Tokugawa Shogunate, and
later to the Emperor In fact, when the
present Emperor was restored TO actual
power the anti-ShOgun party was financ-
ed by the Mitsuis. For this service the
head Of the house was created a peer. and
other members Of the family have been
decorated and given various kinds of
honors.
The holdings of the house Of Mitsui are
the common property Of the members OF
eleven families, and the conduct Of affairs
Is under the direct control OF a board
made up Of the heads Of these family
groups According TO the social customs
Of Japan, the unit of society is the fam
ily and not the individual Family" is
collective word, and does not ueces-
sarily mean one household. It may con-
sist Of forty households, with 200 men,
bers. but in the eyes OF the law Il is one
family. II is ruled by a family council,
and the oldest son OF an oldest son pre-
sides over it. The individual is always
subservient TO the family, and when the
rights or interests Of one person are
weighed in the balance against the rights
or interests of the whole body the decision
Is always against the individual
BY laws and customs OF inheritance the
estate Of the father descends to the first
born son by primogeniture. The younger
sons must be adopted into another family.
or. falling to do this. must make their
own fortunes Independently In the case
Of the Mitsui family, however, from the
Oldest to the youngest. there is no par
ticular property 10 which any individual
can enter his absolute claim. The prop
critics are the common holdings of all It
is a collective body. or Joint association,
working with a combined capital and un-
der joint liability.
The family rules under which this great
organization works were drawn up in
1913 Cwhen George Washington was one
year old. and they continue in force until
this day. being only slightly modified to
conform 10 the requirements Of the laws
Of the country under its constitution.
The original rules were left to the fam
ily in the last will and testament of one /
Takatoshi and were codifed by his son. /
Hachrobei Takahira. The many changes !
in all these years have not altered the |
principles Of these rules, and the business
which owns its own steamship lines and !
girdles the globe IS still governed by reg
ulations originally intended for a dry
goods store in ancient Yeddo, a city to /
which no foreigner might come, and 10 |
Gated in a country from which no native
might journey.
The influence Of the Mitsui family in |
the economical affairs Of Japan is so ex-
tensive that if is difficult to give anything |
like a comprehensive survey Of H. The
undertakings may be divided into the |
four departments OF banking. foreign /
and domestic trade. mining, and whole /
sale and retail dry goods Under these /
come innumerable branches such as
home commerce. foreign trade iron and /
engineering works, and many other en-
terprises which cover practically the en-
tire commercial and industrial field.
The Mitsui banking business WAS
founded over zoo years ago. and is deeply /
rooted in the soil Of japanese finance.
These banks financed the restoration, and
in 1871 the Mitsuis decided TO organize q
Central Bank OF Japan For that purpose
they erected a magnificent stone build
ing in Yokohama. But in 1870 the govern
ment decided to adopt the American
banking system and the First National
Bank Of Japan was organized. This COM
PEELED the Mitsuis TO abandon their plan,
but they became the principal share
holders in the new national bank. They
turned over to It the house the family had
erected for its own purposes. which re-
mains to-day one OF the finest structures
IN the entire empire. Later. in 1876, the
Mltsui Bank was organized. Although not
the Official bankers OF the government, II
Is well-known fact mat now, in the
times OF financial stress. the Mitsui fam
lily Is practically carrying upon its broad
shoulders the credit Of the japanese na-
ton.
The export business OF the NUtsuis Is d
the most extensive in the country. They
ship millions of dollars Of raw silk 10 II
New York each year. being the largest
handlers OF silk In the world. They were
pioneers In the export Of Japanese rice
and do an international business IN this
staple. Among the many articles included
in their export business are coal. cotton
yarn. cotton cloth, copper. silver. coral II