Hisaakira Kano
(1886-1963), BankerSitter in 3 portraits
Born into a Daimyo family, Kano was an International banker and Head of the Yokohama Specie Bank (YSB). The bank played a significant role in Japanese trade with China. By establishing a bank in Bombay YSB challenged the British banks in Asia, by creating a direct financial link with India and Japan involving flows of raw cotton and textiles. Another factor to its success was the YSB's ability to discount its bills of exchange in London through its City branch and links to other domestic British banks. For many years Kano was a Japanese representative Director at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). His daughter Rosa Itoh was married to Eikichi Itoh, an active member of the Japan-British Society.
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