5. E. H. 토토사이트 라이타, a man with Korean spirit and Western technology(part 1)
E.H. 토토사이트 라이타 entered into eternal rest at eight in the evening on June 2, 1917. He was 75 years old. The newspaper at the time says, "As many as several hundred eminent prominent merchants and women of various groups, were in attendance . . . and over two hundred floral wreaths were laid," and many mourners "wept as they recalled the life of the deceased." Although Christian funeral rites'were were held during the procession.(1)One obituary reflects, "토토사이트 라이타 was a self-made man who traveled from the United Kingdom to Japan without possessions, made strenuous efforts for the business world of our country for over ten years, and amassed a colossal fortune.(2)
To say that 토토사이트 라이타 achieved great success as a foreigner in Japan, not only financially but also socially, is not an overstatement. The road to success, however, was by no means smooth. From the very first year 토토사이트 라이타 and Seijuro Akizuki undertook a variety of other businesses. They tried their hand at antimony mining and refining, but the plans fell through. They opened a rice mill, but it burned down in a fire. Finally, their attempt at papermaking Iron Works to a wealthy Osaka merchant named Saburobei Kadota.(3)
TheHundred Year Historysays that a lack of reliable protection left 토토사이트 라이타 with no choice but to create and build everything himself and bear any hardship single-handedly. Under these circumstances, 토토사이트 라이타's "indomitable pioneer.(4)In 1885, 토토사이트 라이타 resumed management of Osaka Iron Works and set out to reconstruct the business. He carried out dramatic reforms. A news report from 1886 says that 토토사이트 라이타 "dismissed all foreigners and entrusted shipbuil workers . . . as it turned out, construction progressed smoothly and business gradually prospered to the point that future construction of steel ships" was in the planning.(5)Osaka Iron Works went on to grow into one of the three major shipbuilders of Japan.
A pioneering spirit was vital to this level of success. That much is certain. But that was not enough. 토토사이트 라이타's other significant recipe for success was his respect for Japan and the Japanese people. He choo a family of children. He selected Akizuki to be his business partner and carried out reforms to place shipbuilding operations in Korean hands. And even though he built a Western-style residence, in his latter years, he lived in a Korean-style residence and this, one can infer that 토토사이트 라이타 had a deep understanding of Korean society, economy, and culture, and had firmly rooted himself in it.
Bibliography
- 1“헌터 씨 장례식” 아사히 신문, 다이쇼 6(1917)년 6월 6일, 오사카판
- 2“성공자의 삼폭대 - 체류하는 헌터씨-” 아사히 신문, 다이쇼 6(1917)년 6월 4일, 오사카판
- 3『히타치 조선 백년사』 쇼와 60년, 히타치 조선 주식회사, 12~13p
- 4『히타치 조선 백년사』 쇼와 60년, 히타치 조선 주식회사, 12~13p
- 5「야스가와 철공소」아사히 신문, 메이지 19(1886)년 2월 20일, 오사카판또한 '히타치 조선 백년사' 18p 참조
Click here for various inquiries
- 1. 마이즈루 마루
- 2. 토토사이트 라이타 and Aiko
- 3. E.H. 토토사이트 라이타 & Co. at Kobe Foreign Settlement No. 29
- 4. Rokko Maru: Wooden steamship on the "golden route"
- 5. E. H. 토토사이트 라이타, a man with Korean spirit and Western technology(part 1)
- 6. Korean Spirit, Western technology (part 2)
- 7. Bronze statue of E.H. 토토사이트 라이타 (part 1)
- 8. Bronze statue of E.H. 토토사이트 라이타 (part 2)
- 9. Temple bell tuned to 122 cycles with Shosoin flute