Masao Matsukata

Masao Matsukata (June 26, 1868 — March 25, 1942) was a Japanese businessman. He was born in Kagoshima Prefecture and was the son of politician Masayoshi Matsukata. He was the fourth son and became the adopted heir through an adoption arrangement with Yusuke Matsukata.

Regarding his educational background and studies abroad, he attended Gakushuin University and the University of Tokyo, and later studied in the United Kingdom. During his time abroad, he also attended the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, where he participated as a player in baseball and American football. After returning to Japan, he was active in the Kansai business community, serving in various corporate executive positions.

His career includes roles such as president of Naniwa Bank, director of Kyodo Fire Insurance, auditor of Toyokawa Railway, and president of Hanshin Electric Railway. Additionally, from around 1915, he was involved in managing the Osaka Tigers and became their first director in 1935. He laid the foundation for the Osaka Tigers and established the team as a symbol of baseball enthusiasm in the Kansai region. Before World War II, he popularized games between the Tigers and Hankyu Army as the "Kansai War of the Universities" (a reference to Keio vs. Waseda), making them a regional fixture.

Furthermore, upon the founding of the Japan Professional Baseball League, he was appointed Vice President alongside Shin’etsu Ando, contributing to the promotion of professional baseball. His achievements in the development of the league earned him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.

His family included his mother, Masuko Masu (1880–1911), the eldest daughter of Kawahara Yōichi. His eldest son, Yoshio Matsukata, served as an executive at Daito Life Insurance. His wife, Hisako, was a granddaughter of the founder of Hidehiko Shoken, Hosoda Hisanari, and also a adopted granddaughter of Sadaichi Sakuma.

Additionally, there is an external link to the Hall of Fame list at the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, which can be referenced.