Kichibei Murai

Kichibei Murai was the Japanese tobacco cigarette magnate. He founded cigarette manufacturing company called "Murai Brothers Shokai" in 1892 and was influenced in its design by western style. Murai named his company's cigarettes in sophisticated foreign-style such as "Sunrise" (first sold in 1891) and "Hero" (first sold in 1894), and his company's package designs that were imitations of Western style designs won popularity in Japan.

Murai also established Toyo Printing Co., Ltd that employed the latest technology from foreign countries. Murai's Toyo Printing Co., Ltd. became the Fushimi branch factory of the Government Monopoly Bureau, and it turned into the Kyoto Printing Factory of Japan Tobacco & Salt Public Corporation in 1905.

Kichibei Murai had intersts in banks, mines, oil fields, farms and tobacco factories. He was the chief partner in Gomeikaisha Murai Bank, established in Ohdemmacho Street, Nihonbashi district, Tokyo, in January, 1904, a year after the liquidation of Murai Brothers Company owning to the Government monopolizing the tobacco business in 1903. In 1905, the Kyoto branch was established. In 1911, Murai Savings Bank, Ltd. was established in addition and several branch offices were later opened in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.