Unpacking Japan The father of Japanese capitalism warned us this would happen
Feb 24, 2026
Ken Shibusawa, economist and great-grandson of Eiichi Shibusawa, blends finance and social entrepreneurship. He talks about rediscovering his ancestor's moral capitalism, shifting from hedge funds to long-term investing, and building bridges between Japan and Africa. He also discusses funding African startups and inspiring younger generations.
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Growing Up Between Japan And The US
- Ken moved from Japan to Yonkers as a child, attended US public schools from 2nd grade through college, then returned to Japan in the 1980s to rediscover his roots.
- He joined his uncle's Japan Center for International Exchange before shifting toward finance after meeting young Wall Street delegates and pursuing an MBA.
Hedge Funds Force Deeper Market Analysis
- Hedge funds taught Ken to dig far deeper into supporting data and trends, not just headline numbers, changing his approach to markets.
- A New York macro fund's detailed research on Japan exposed gaps in local analysis and inspired him to study global macro and hedge strategies.
Morality And Accounting Must Coexist
- Eiichi Shibusawa's core teaching pairs Longo (morality/Confucian ethics) with Soroban (practical business/accounting), insisting they operate together for sustainable wealth.
- Ken found his great‑grandfather's archived writings and realized moral purpose makes business enduring, not just profit maximization.