8. Some Turned to Commerce
After the Meiji Restoration, many former samurai, known as shizoku, sought new livelihoods in business. However, their lack of commercial experience often led to financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, some former samurai successfully transitioned into business, contributing to Japan’s modernization. For instance, Iwasaki Yatarō, a former samurai, founded Mitsubishi, and Shibusawa Eiichi, also from a samurai background, became a prominent businessman and is considered the “father of Japanese capitalism.” These stories are detailed in the Nippon.com article on the roots of Japanese capitalism (nippon.com).
