Haruji Matsue

Early years

Matsue was born in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima as the second son of a former samurai of Aizu Domain. In 1899, he graduated from Tokyo Technical School and found employment with Dai-Nippon Sugar Company. However, in 1903 he passed an acceptance examination held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce and received a scholarship to study overseas. He was sent to the Louisiana State University, well known at the time for its work in sugar cultivation, and graduated with a master's degree. He returned to Japan in 1907 and was appointed plant manager at Dai-Nippon Sugar's Osaka factory. However, Matsu left the company in 1908 after it became the center of a public scandal involving the bribery of several noted members of the Diet of Japan and moved to Taiwan. He worked for two sugar companies in Taiwan, but left due to disagreements with their senior management and after realizing that both companies were in precarious financial situations. Visiting Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands, he realized their potential for development for sugar cane cultivation, and returned to Japan seeking investors.