Saburobe Nakai III

Saburobe Nakai III was a Japanese businessperson who was deeply involved in founding Mitsui Bank and Mitsui & Co., the head of branch family of Mitsui family and the founder of specialist trading company dealing in paper ranked first in Japan and third in the world, namely Japan Pulp and Paper Company.

Biography

Saburobe Nakai III was born as the second son of Seikichi Nakai and Kin Nakai in Kyoto with the birth name, "Sanpei". He began to serve Mitsui family at the Kyoto headquarter at the age of 12.
In 1845 when he was serving Mitsui family as manager at Mitsui Echigoya kimono fabric store, he succeeded the name of "Saburobe" and started Japanese traditional paper 'washi' dealer "Echisan Shoten".
"Echisan Shoten", wholesale washi dealer, was started by Saburobe Nakai III with the permission of use of goodwill of Mitsui family due to the recognition for long-term achievements from the generation of Saburobe Nakai I. During Kaei Era, it grew into a well-known paper dealer. Then he was exceptionally allowed to use .
In 1859, he was exceptionally allowed to use again.
In 1870, after Saburobe Nakai III entrusted Saburobe Nakai IV with the management of Echisan Shoten, he restarted to serve Mitsui family and fulfilled his heavy responsibilities. He became "Sō-motojime", general manager, of "Ō-motokata", supervisory body, of all Mitsui Business Organisations at the request of Mitsui Hachirōemon VIII (Takayoshi) and was deeply involved in founding Mitsui Bank and Mitsui & Co. Especially in Mitsui Bank, he supported Minomura Rizaemon
and Nakamigawa Hikojiro as its deputy head.
Saburobe also exerted himself for establishing Yokkaichi City Papers by financing together with the president of the Daiichi Bank, Shibusawa Eiichi.