Kaichiro Nezu

He was a Japanese statesman and businessman. He made fortune through stock investments and participated in the management of Tokyo Basha Tetsudo (Tokyo Horse-Drawn Carriage Railways), Tokyo Dento (Tokyo Electric Light Company) and Tokyo Gas as a major shareholder. He assumed the presidency of Tobu Railway Company which was facing financial troubles and through improvements in the financial situation and extension of railway routes he improved the finances of the company and developed the company into a large enterprise. He established the Musashi Koto Gakko (later Musashi University).

When he visited the United States in 1909, he was impressed by the social contributions made by millionaires. Therefore he put his efforts into contributions of this kind by establishing schools and collecting antiques, based on the idea that he had an obligation to return the profits he made through society back into society. After Kaichiro’s death in 1940, the Nezu Institute of Fine Arts was established according to his dying wish, and his collection, mainly consisting of antiques and tea sets were shown widely to the general public. The Nezu Institute of Fine Arts today is known as Nezu Museum.