Background
Ippei Wakao was born in 1820 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
一平 若尾
Ippei Wakao was born in 1820 in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
When young moved to Edo (now Tokyo) and became a direct retainer of the Shogun, but after a few months returned home. At the age of 21 began peddling silk and tobacco and when the port of Yokohama was opened to foreign trade (1860) Ippei Wakao moved there and began exporting cocoons and importing sugar and cotton and at the same time founded a silk-reeling mill. Made a huge profit by cornering the crystal trade at Mount Mitake, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Later Ippei Wakao was elected to House of Peers. Founded Tokyo Horse Carriage Railway and Tokyo Electric Light companies and was a director of Yokohama Specie Bank.