Masatsune Ogura

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Masatsune Ogura (1875–1961) was a Japanese politician and businessman. He was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, and joined Sumitomo Group in 1899 at age 24. He became president of Sumitomo in 1930, helping the company grow into a major zaibatsu. He also developed the Konomai Gold Mine, one of East Asia’s largest gold mines at the time, and reorganized the company into a corporation.

Ogura served as a member of the House of Peers from 1933 to 1946, nominated by the Emperor.

In 1941, he briefly served as Japan’s Minister of Finance in the Third Konoe Cabinet, from July 18 to October 18. When the Tojo cabinet took over, Tojo asked him to stay, but Ogura declined, saying he joined the cabinet at Konoe’s request and had no reason to remain.

He supported the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere and spoke against starting war with Western powers. During World War II, he headed the Wartime Finance Bank and acted as the top economic adviser to the Japanese-backed Reorganized National Government of China.

Ogura was mentioned in the Tokyo Trials but was found not guilty of war crimes. He died on November 20, 1961, and was buried at Aoyama Cemetery.