During the Meiji era, it was far from easy for a young Japanese man to travel alone to the United States and succeed in business.
Among those who did, Yasukata Murai stands out as an exceptional figure. Serving as the right-hand man of Toyo MBefore Noritake: The Life of Toyo Morimura, Who Built Its Early Foundationsorimura, Murai helped transform Morimura Brothers into the most successful Japanese-owned company in New York.
His life is filled with bold, deeply human episodes. Morimura’s unwavering seriousness and Murai’s natural charisma formed a powerful contrast. It was precisely this combination that allowed Morimura Brothers to achieve remarkable growth.
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Toyo Morimura and Yasukata Murai:
A Perfect Partnership of Opposites
Toyo Morimura was known as a man of absolute dedication—serious, disciplined, and entirely focused on his business. Day after day, he thought only about how to improve the store, valuing work over leisure. He was the very image of a diligent craftsman-entrepreneur.
Yasukata Murai, by contrast, was outgoing, cheerful, and socially gifted. He enjoyed drinking, formed friendships easily, and was known for countless bold anecdotes among his peers.
The steadfast Morimura and the flexible Murai formed a classic “iron hand and velvet glove” partnership. Their complementary personalities allowed Morimura Brothers to operate smoothly and grow rapidly.
A Legendary Episode:
Too Drunk to Stand—and Falling onto the Boss’s Clothes
One of the most famous stories illustrating Murai’s larger-than-life character goes as follows.
One evening, after drinking with Toyo Morimura, Murai became completely intoxicated and collapsed onto Morimura, staining his clothes. For most employers, this would have been unforgivable. Yet when Murai apologized the next day, Morimura reportedly replied:
“Well, it happened over drinks—these things can’t be helped.
…Though the smell lingers a bit, so perhaps you could buy something with a nice fragrance?”
This episode perfectly captures Morimura’s generosity and the deep trust between the two men.
From Retail to Wholesale:
Murai’s Strategic Transformation of Morimura Brothers
It was Yasukata Murai who led the fundamental transformation of Morimura Brothers’ business model.
The company shifted from a primarily retail-focused operation to a wholesale trading business capable of serving much larger markets. This decision became the turning point that elevated Morimura Brothers to the top of Japanese enterprises in New York.
Although Murai spoke almost no English, he consistently achieved top sales through sheer persuasive talent. However, he realized that spending hours selling a single item was inefficient. He proposed the wholesale shift to Toyo Morimura, setting the stage for explosive growth.
Driving the Success of “Fancy China Ware”
Among Morimura Brothers’ most successful products was “Fancy China Ware”, Western-style tableware originally envisioned by Toyo Morimura.
In pursuit of Morimura’s dream of producing fine white porcelain, Nippon Toki Gomei Kaisha (the predecessor of Noritake) was established in 1904 in Noritake, Aichi Prefecture. However, it took nearly ten years before the ideal ceramics were perfected and ready for sale.
During this decade, Morimura Brothers in New York provided critical financial support through overseas trade. The period before what collectors now call “Old Noritake” emerged was sustained largely by Murai’s international trading efforts, which formed the backbone of the company’s revenue.
1908:
The Largest Japanese Company in New York
According to records from 1908, Morimura Brothers employed 120 people, making it by far the largest Japanese-owned enterprise in New York at the time.
For comparison, Mitsui & Co.’s New York branch employed only 56 staff members.
Morimura Brothers dominated both in scale and revenue—and at the center of this success stood Yasukata Murai.
(Source: “Japan in New York,” 1908)
A “100-Million-Yen Salary” Executive
According to The 100-Year History of Morimura, a major organizational restructuring took place in 1909, and executive bonuses were recorded.
Murai’s bonus alone amounted to 50,000 yen.
At the time:
- 10 kg of rice cost 1.56 yen
- The Prime Minister’s annual salary was 1,000 yen
Converted into modern value, Murai’s bonus is often estimated at approximately ¥100 million (around one million USD).
The boy from rural Ehime who once dreamed of earning just five yen a month had, through extraordinary circumstances, risen to unimaginable success in America. He was a rare embodiment of the Japanese American Dream.
A Leader of the Japanese Community in New York
By the early 1900s, Yasukata Murai was widely regarded as one of the leading voices within New York’s Japanese community.
Alongside figures such as Ryōichirō Arai and Jōkichi Takamine, he was deeply involved in establishing institutions like the Japan Club, helping to lay the foundations of Japanese communal life in the city.
He also demonstrated sharp business instincts—actively recruiting talented employees from failed rival firms and expanding sales networks across the United States.
Conclusion:
A Meiji-Era Youth Who Achieved Great Success in America
The life of Yasukata Murai reflects the spirit of young Japanese pioneers navigating a rapidly changing world after the Meiji Restoration.
The disciplined Toyo Morimura and the charismatic Yasukata Murai—two men of contrasting personalities—joined forces to build Morimura Brothers into one of the largest Japanese enterprises in New York and to advance Japan’s ceramics industry on a global scale.
Their legacy remains a powerful symbol of how Japanese entrepreneurs challenged the world and succeeded.
References
The 100-Year History of Morimura
Japan in New York
The History of Japanese Development in New York
The Biography of Yasukata Murai
