1868
The restoration of the emperor Meiji marks the beginning
of a new era for Japan. The country embarks on an ambitious
programme to modernise rapidly along western standards. Within
50 years, Japan had become one of the world’s leading industrial
and economic powers.
1878
Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges are established.
1895
Seibei Fujimoto, the owner of a rice company in Osaka,
has surplus cash from rice trading and wants to expand and
diversify. He establishes a limited partnership, The Fujimoto
Bank, to manage financial services.
After the Sino-Japanese War the Japanese economy prospers.
The beginning of Japan’s financial industry: In Tokyo the Mitsubishi Bank is established while in Osaka, the Sumitomo Bank is set up. Both of these banks establish zaibatsu (a group of Japanese corporations who work together and protect each others Einterests).
