Today, I would like to introduce Yasukata Murai, a pioneer of early Japan–U.S. trade and one of the most influential Japanese businessmen in New York during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Murai is best known as the key figure who expanded Morimura Brothers after the death of its founder, Toyo Morimura. Within the Japanese community in New York, he was regarded as one of its “Genro”, an elder statesmen, often mentioned alongside figures such as Ryōichirō Arai and Jōkichi Takamine.
At first glance, Murai appeared to be an ordinary young man—someone you might find anywhere. Yet over time, he achieved remarkable success in New York and was eventually described as a millionaire.
In this article, we focus on the early half of his life, tracing how an unambitious youth came to be “a man worth sending to New York.”
“Five Yen a Month Is Enough”:
A Boy with Modest Dreams
Yasukata Murai was born in 1854, the first year of the Ansei era—just one year after Commodore Perry’s arrival in Japan. It was a time when the country was gripped by deep uncertainty about its future.
He was born in what is now Iyo-Yoshida, Ehime Prefecture, into a family of lower-ranking samurai. When Murai was fourteen, the Tokugawa shogunate collapsed and the Meiji government was established. Samurai status disappeared, and Japan rapidly transitioned into a society where people had to earn their living through work.
Against this backdrop, Murai’s aspirations were strikingly modest.
He once heard an acquaintance—an older teacher earning five yen per month—say:
“Five yen a month is about average to slightly above average. You can’t live luxuriously, but you won’t go hungry.”
Murai reportedly thought, “That would be enough for me. If I could secure a stable government job at that level, I’d be satisfied.”
In other words, Murai was not driven by grand ambition from the start. He was simply a typical young man hoping for a secure and ordinary life.
Not a Model Student—Yet Strangely Likable
Murai was far from a model of good behavior.
There are several anecdotes describing how he spent money intended for his studies on entertainment instead. Rather than being earnest and disciplined, he was somewhat careless—yet somehow impossible to dislike.
This personality trait turned out to be one of his greatest strengths. People around him took a liking to him and repeatedly offered him opportunities. One such opportunity would shape his entire life: moving to Tokyo.
Keio University:
Playboy Friends and Future Political Giants
At the recommendation of an older acquaintance, Murai moved to Tokyo and enrolled at Keio University. He had no financial means to support himself, and once again relied on the help of others. His journey to Tokyo was very much a case of being pushed forward by fortune.
During his time at Keio, Murai was not known as an exceptional student. If anything, he belonged to the group that enjoyed socializing and nightlife.
One of his close companions was Tsuyoshi Inukai, who would later become prime minister of Japan. Another classmate was Yukio Ozaki, later revered as the “God of Constitutional Government.”
Inukai was known for his love of entertainment. Letters from the period include remarks such as:
“That place we visited last time was fun. Let’s go again and spend time with geisha.”
Murai was part of this group and frequently joined such outings.
Ozaki, by contrast, was serious and rarely participated. Within the same classroom, future political leaders and carefree young men coexisted side by side.
人気職は外交官と政治家――「自分は商人になる」と言ってしThe Popular Careers of the Time: Politics and Diplomacy
—and One Sentence That Changed Murai’s Life
At the time, the most prestigious career paths for Keio graduates were politics and diplomacy. Many students pursued these elite tracks with fierce determination.
Perhaps sensing that he lacked the drive to compete at that level, Murai casually remarked one day:
“I’m going to become a merchant.”
That single sentence reached Yukichi Fukuzawa, the founder of Keio University.
In those days, business was still considered inferior to government service. Fukuzawa, however, believed strongly that merchants would play a vital role in Japan’s future. He found Murai’s statement intriguing.
From that moment on, Murai’s life began to shift decisively toward becoming an international merchant.
A Chance to Go to New York:
Morimura Brothers Seeks Talent
Around this time, Morimura Brothers in New York was beginning to gain momentum under its founder, Toyo Morimura.
Toyo wrote to his brother Ichizaemon Morimura in Japan, requesting:
“Please send capable personnel from Japan—someone proficient in English and bookkeeping.”
Ichizaemon brought this request directly to Fukuzawa, asking if he knew anyone suitable.
The name Fukuzawa proposed was Yasukata Murai.
Whether Murai truly possessed strong English or bookkeeping skills was questionable. Nevertheless, Fukuzawa sensed in him a certain larger-than-life quality—a combination of human charm and unpredictable potential.
Rather than focusing on credentials alone, Fukuzawa chose to bet on Murai’s character and future promise.
Chosen Despite Lacking Skills in English and Bookkeeping
Ichizaemon Morimura met Murai and remained skeptical. Toyo in New York had explicitly asked for someone fluent in English and trade accounting.
Yet Fukuzawa’s recommendation carried great weight. After Murai gained basic experience working at the Morimura organization in Japan, he was finally sent to New York in 1879.
Upon arrival, the truth emerged:
Murai could barely speak English—and had almost no knowledge of bookkeeping.
Toyo must have wondered why someone so mismatched to the original request had been sent. To make matters worse, Murai’s first impression was not particularly strong: he was short, stocky, restless-eyed, and appeared anxious.
Still, Toyo made a crucial decision. He assigned Murai to customer-facing sales, while handling bookkeeping himself.
This decision would prove decisive.
The “One-Dollar Carriage Incident” in New York
Murai’s stubborn and unconventional nature became apparent immediately after his arrival in New York.
After traveling by ship to San Francisco and then by train across the continent, Murai planned to take a horse-drawn carriage from the station to the Morimura Brothers store.
Unfamiliar with local prices, he assumed that one dollar would be enough.
The actual fare should have been closer to three dollars. Each time he showed the address and offered one dollar, drivers refused.
Instead of conceding, Murai stubbornly persisted:
“There must be someone who will take me for one dollar.”
He continued negotiating until he finally found a driver willing to accept the fare. As a result, he arrived at the store far later than expected.
When Toyo heard the story, he was both astonished and impressed:
“Is this man a genius—or just a fool?”
This episode perfectly captured Murai’s character: unconventional, stubborn, and strangely unwavering.
A Natural Salesman: Becoming the Store’s Top Seller
Despite his lack of language skills, Murai excelled in sales.
Starting with almost no English, he relied on gestures, facial expressions, and relentless enthusiasm. Against all expectations, he quickly became:
the top-selling salesperson in the store.
His success demonstrated a rare combination of personal charm and sheer force of will—exactly the qualities Fukuzawa had seen in him.
ここでもやはり、福沢諭吉が見抜いていた「大物感」は間違っていなかったと言えるでしょう。
まConclusion:
How an Ordinary Youth Became “a Man Worth Sending”
Looking back at Murai’s early life, several key points stand out:
- He began as an ordinary young man seeking a modest, stable income
- He was not academically driven, but was deeply likable and often given opportunities
- At Keio University, his declaration “I will become a merchant” caught Fukuzawa’s attention
- Despite lacking technical skills, his character earned him a chance to go to New York
- His unconventional behavior and persistence left strong impressions
- He emerged as the top salesman at Morimura Brothers in New York
Murai was never a flawless elite. He was impulsive, imperfect, and deeply human.
How this man went on to build Morimura Brothers into a major enterprise and become a leading figure in New York’s Japanese community will be explored in a future article.
