• Eiji Unakami Graduate School of Economics, The University of Tokyo

• Sawako Shirahase TCJS Director

General Trading Company(GTC) is Japanese diversified business group evolving in Meiji Japan Economic growth and preserving a significance in Reiwa Japan Economic scene.
Researcher’s interest is finding indications for its future by researching its history.
This case study compares risk management of Mitsui Bussan, the first and biggest GTC before WWII, and Furukawa Shoji which was collapsed soon after its foundation.
Value at Risk, a cotemporary risk management tool are used for quantitative comparison in addition to qualitative one. This research suggests that the superiority/inferiority of risk management shown in their value at risk draw the line between survivor and failure.

Eiji Unakami is a Deputy GM, Internal Audit Dept, Mitsubishi Corporation (Present) and an MSc Economic History London School of Economics.