Matsugorō Nakasone

Matsugorō Nakasone (January 20, 1889 – June 25, 1969) was a Japanese merchant who was active as a timber trader. He was born in Satomi Village, Usui District, Gunma Prefecture (now Kaminari-machi, Takasaki City). He was the eldest son of the previous Matsugorō Nakasone and succeeded the family name in 1907 (Meiji 40).

He managed a prominent timber wholesale business called "Kofukumatsu," primarily operating in the Kanto region, which covered approximately 3 hectares (30,000 square meters). During the student days of Yasuhiro Nakasone, he consistently employed about 150 artisans and around 20 live-in maids.

Regarding his family, his wife was Yuku (sister of Shozō Nakamura), his eldest son was Kitchitarō, his second son was Yasuhiro, his third son was Ryōsuke, his fourth son was Masatoshi, and his eldest daughter was Hatsuko. Information about Kitchitarō is unclear, but it is said that Ryōsuke was killed in war, and Masatoshi died of illness.

Matsugorō Nakasone was a devout Buddhist. His hobby was traveling. Politically, he initially opposed his second son Yasuhiro's entry into politics but ultimately advised him, saying, “If you want to become a politician, emulate Sōgorō Sakura,” and supported Yasuhiro’s ambitions.

In the spring of 1966 (Showa 41), he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class. He died at the age of 80 in 1969 (Showa 44).

References include the "12th Edition Popular Personnel Records for Hokkaido, Oshu, Kanto, Chubu, Foreign Territories, Manchuria, China, and Overseas" (Showa 13), overseen by Saburō Ino, and Jinichi Kami's "Keibatsu Revised Edition" (2002).