Bunkichi Itō

Fumkichi Itō (born December 15, 1885 – died November 25, 1951) was a Japanese businessman, a noble, and a baron member of the House of Peers. He was the illegitimate son of the first Prime Minister, Hirobumi Itō, and played an important role within the family.

He was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture and graduated from the former Yamaguchi Prefectural Toyoura Junior High School (First Class) and Yamaguchi High School. In 1908 (Meiji 41), he completed the Law Department of Tokyo Imperial University and began working in the Commercial and Industry Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. After passing the civil service examination for officials, the following year he was appointed as a forest officer and a commercial and industrial secretary. In 1910 (Meiji 43), he temporarily took leave of absence and studied in England. Afterwards, he held positions including senior civil servant at the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, secretary at the Forest Bureau, and foreign service clerk. He also served as the Prime Minister’s secretary and an advisor to the Ministry of Munitions, and held directorships at Nissan and the presidency of Japan Mining.

Fumkichi Itō established a branch family in 1906 (Meiji 39), and with the support of his father’s achievements, he was ennobled as a baron on November 1, 1909 (Meiji 42). On March 18, 1922 (Taisho 11), he was elected as a substitute member of the House of Peers for the baronial class and served as a member until the abolition of the House of Peers in 1947 (Showa 22).

In 1953 (Showa 28), Nissan Fire & Marine Insurance (now Sompo Japan) acquired his residence in Shiba Park 3-chome. The estate was named “Shunkō Hall” after his courtesy name “Shunkō,” and after renovations, it was used as the company’s guest house.

He was also involved in the founding of the Shunkō Circle, comprising 131 companies related to the Nissan Group.

Fumkichi Itō was awarded the Fourth Rank of Senior First Court Rank on February 15, 1929.

In his personal life, he married Tsumako, the fifth daughter of Prime Minister Taro Katsura. Their son, Shun’ō, graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, worked at Nissan Motor, and married the second daughter of Baron Shiraine Matsusuke. His grandchildren include Hiroaki and Toshifumi, born in 1946 and 1954 respectively.

His family included eldest daughter Kayo, second daughter Kimiko, third daughter Hirako, second son Kazuo, and fourth daughter Michiko. His eldest daughter married Teruhiko Sata, the eldest son of Sadao Sata; his second daughter married Eiichiro Shiba, the eldest son of Takashi Shiba. Kazuo worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Economics, and became an adopted son-in-law of the Iwase family. His fourth daughter Michiko married Hirokazu Hayashi, brother of Hirohisa Itō.

Sources and references include: *Directory of the House of Peers (Class B)*, *History of Toyoura High School*, *Noble Family Lineage Encyclopedia*, *A Hundred Years of Parliamentary System History*, and *Interpreting Past Prime Ministers through Family Trees and Residences*.