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At the northeast corner of the Irifunebashi intersection, there is a monument called "the birthplace of the shoe industry".
In the early Meiji era, there was the Ise Katsuzo Shoejo, founded by Katsuzo Nishimura on March 15, 1870.
This factory was founded and developed with the support of Masanori Hotta, Sakura feudal lord and Eiichi Shibusawa....Actually, it has been unknown for many years.
However, according to a long-standing survey by President Inagawa of Asakusa Torot Shoes Co., Ltd., the description of `` Irifune 5-chome No. 1, 1,500 tsubo, gold 1,900 yen, Katsuzo Nishimura '' was discovered in 1873. In March 1985, this monument was built by the Japan Shoes Federation.

In addition to the shoe business, he started many modern industries such as refractory bricks, glass, meriyas, and clothing, and was called "Watama Yosai"....
It looks like you're living a smooth sailing life, but was it always a "successful person"?

Let's take a closer look at his life here.

Based on Masao Shimizu's "Hundred Story of Tsukiji Remaining in Tokyo" (Winter Seisha, 2007)

While experiencing setbacks when he was young, he seemed to be interested and ambitious in overseas and making money.
I was surprised that I had been put in two prisons in Chuo-ku because of the strong image of a successful person in the shoemaking industry!

Based on Masao Shimizu's "Hundred Story of Tsukiji Remaining in Tokyo" (Winter Seisha, 2007)

Since then, his brother Shigeki (one of the founders of Meirokusha, a member of the House of Lords), who was in the Sakura Domain at the time, was asked to conduct a childbirth business in order to give jobs to the children of the unemployed clan. In consultation with his brothers, one brick-built two-story factory and one Western-style building office in Irifunecho.
And on March 15, 1870, which is also engraved on the monument, we were finally able to raise the signboard of a shoe factory certified by the Ministry of Health.
Since he was an amateur in shoes, it is recorded that he welcomed Hiroshi Clan (Kiyokuni), Rubosky (German), Le Marchan (Dutchan), etc. as teachers, and worked hard to make military shoes suitable for Japanese people.

After that, you will be affected by events such as the issuance of a conscription order, the Satsuma Rebellion, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Russo-Japanese War.
In 1884, we set up our head office at the current location of Chuo-ku government office and set up a sales office in Ginza.
In addition, we succeeded in domesticizing raw material leather, which was a long-awaited wish, and have been reborn as a company that remains today.

I've been to that company's store many times, but what company is it?
If you are interested, please refer to the Senior Correspondent Gimini ☆Please refer to this article by Mr. Cricket.♪
There must be a number of unexpected discoveries. (Before I became a correspondent, I learned a lot.)

(photographed by the author in Sakura City)

So far, I've seen it briefly until Nishimura made the shoemaking industry solid.
As a result, it was found that the success of businesses that not only gained huge wealth but also contributed greatly to the modernization of Japan was the result of overcoming numerous hardships.

And its success cannot be said without the Sakura clan, which has often been boosted.
His statue is located in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, where he is based, and you can learn about his brilliant achievements.
As you can see in the first photo of this article, you should also check what shoes you are wearing. ^^

It is no exaggeration to say that various industries have flourished and foreign goods have spread quickly, Chuo-ku is a treasure trove of episodes of not only employed foreign nationals but also Japanese businessmen who supported Japan's modernization.
I would like to introduce interesting episodes in the future!

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