Geographical scope

Sites and Institutions Related to Keizo Shibusawa; primarily in Japan

• 
  
  Hamada-ura gahen-roku manuscript copy (owned by ISJFC)
• 
  
  “Fishing with a longline”

Objectives of the Project and Expected Outcomes

　Keizo Shibusawa, who led the Attic Museum–the precursor to today’s ISJFC–was not only a respected scholar but also a businessman who followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, Eiichi Shibusawa, holding prominent positions in both government and business. Although young Keizo initially aspired to become a zoologist, he went on to study industrial history in the Faculty of Economics at university. In addition to his involvement in the management of various banks and businesses, he made significant efforts towards the development of industry. He also researched about history and folklore studies. As Governor of the Bank of Japan and later Minister of Finance, he addressed fiscal and financial challenges during and after World War II. Additionally, he advanced science, engineering, and medicine through international exchange, travel, and diplomacy. By examining the ideas and achievements of figures like Shibusawa, who bridged business and academia across multiple fields, this study explores Japan's experience of modernity and seeks guiding principles for knowledge and ways to take action into the future.　
　The project specifically involves exchanging ideas and fostering in-depth discussion aligned with the interests of individual members regarding Shibusawa’s perspectives and insights, drawn from his activities such as collecting, publishing, and editing books. It will also examine how he conceived project ideas, developed plans, and brought them to fruition. Through presentations and dissemination of project findings, we anticipate that this work will serve as a valuable reference not only for the ISJFC but also for broader academic pursuits.

Duration: 2022-

Report of Results

Results Report

Reading Keizo Shibusawa Through Books, Bibliographical Studies, Volume 30
Edited by The Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture (ISJFC), Kanagawa University.
Bensei Publishing. Released in September 2025.

　An exploration of Keizo Shibusawa’s private activities through a vast amount of collected and archived materials and publications.

Yasuaki Maruyama, Hidekazu Sensui, Hiroo Sekiguchi, Ryo Takagi, Masako Tatsumi, Shino Yamamoto, Shuichi Kawashima, Ryoko Kubota, Shinya Ochi

Commemorative Talk Event

Publication of Reading Keizo Shibusawa through Books, Bibliographical Studies, Volume 30, Benseisha
What Books Meant to Keizo Shibusawa: Editing, Publishing, and Bookstores

On the Day

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025, 2:00 PM–3:30 PM　
Venue: Kanagawa University, Yokohama Campus Building 3, 1st Floor “Museum Commons” Yoneda Yoshimori Memorial Lounge
Speaker:
・Shuichi Kawashima
　 (Senior Researcher, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University)
・Hiroo Sekiguchi
　 (Director, Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University)
・Hidekazu Sensui
　(Staff Member, Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University)
・Shino Yamamoto
　(Staff Member, Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University)
Host:
・Yasuaki Maruyama
　(Staff Member, Institute for the Study of Japanese Folk Culture, Kanagawa University)