

Matazaemon Nakano III
1808-1867 (Aged 59)

INTRODUCTION
Matazaemon III was ahead of his time, introducing modern ideas such as brands and the authorized dealer system during the Edo period.
He also played an active role as a public figure, working hard to rebuild areas damaged by the Ansei Tokai Earthquake.


In the later years of Matazaemon II, his successor worked closely with him to expand the family business. The most notable example was the construction of a new 1.35 km private waterway, which took place between 1850 and 1856. It was a major project that mobilized not just the skilled workforce of Handa but the entire Chita Peninsula, including shipwrights with waterproofing skills and construction workers. The construction project not only created jobs for local residents but also had a major ripple effect on the economy, including the surrounding area. Most water supply systems at the time were built through public works projects in castle towns. It was extremely rare to invest a huge amount of personal wealth to build a private water supply system.

In 1854, Matazaemon III was appointed village headman of Shimo-Handa. That year, the Ansei Tokai Earthquake struck. The following year, the Handa area was hit by storms and major floods, causing unprecedented damage.
To fulfill his duties as a public figure, Matazaemon III rallied the villagers to rebuild the village. He also actively invested his own funds in large-scale construction projects to secure employment for villagers who had lost their jobs in the disasters.
The Handa Canal and Nakano Main Residence (Yamazaki Residence), which still exist today, were constructed during this period.

While Matazaemon III continued to contribute to the local community, he also demonstrated his talent as a business leader by revamping traditional sales methods. At the time, it was common practice to leave price-setting decisions to the boatmen, but this meant there was a risk of the premium Yamabuki vinegar being sold at lower prices. Matazaemon III personally persuaded each boatman in the area to only sell to Hanbei Morita, his largest customer in the Edo (Tokyo) market. This established a sales system similar to the modern-day authorized dealer system.
It was also Matazaemon III who initiated the major shift from individual to group management. In 1864, he decided to give up all his sake brewing rights. He divided and transferred all his brewing rights to family members and trusted employees, and devoted himself to vinegar brewing. He created a system in which family members jointly managed the business. This reform, prompted by the foresight of a new era, could be described as the biggest change for the Nakano family since its founding. As a result, a joint venture called the “Nakano Group” was created.
