TETSUTARO HASEGAWA FOUNDER OF HASEGAWA WORKS CHEMICAL COMPANY LABORATORY, handwritten letter to GeorgeF. Kunz seeking investment

[HASEGAWA WORKS CHEMICAL COMPANY LABORATORY; FOUNDER'S 1916 LETTER TO GEORGE KUNZ SEEKING INVESTMENT; WITH HIS 4-PAGE ESSAY ON BUSINESS CONDITIONS AND AMBITIONS IN JAPAN AND HIS NEWLY-FOUNDED COMPANY] HASEGAWA WORKS, Tokyo, Tetsutaro Hasegawa, 1916 signed letter from Tokyo to George. F. Kunz in New York concerning investment in Hasegawa's newly founded business with a 4-1/4 page double-space essay/prospectus going into such subjects as Japanese nationalism, Japanese industrialization, trading relations with European countries, particularly Germany reflecting Japan's later military alliance with Germany, and Hasegawa's chemical laboratory he founded as one of three types of Japanese chemical laboratories. In general Hasegawa's essay which is like introductory section of a business prospectus (his purpose for writing it was to attract investment in his chemical laboratory) reflects the growing Japanese nationalism of the early decades of the 20th century leading to World War II in the Pacific region, Japan's aim in pursuing industrialization with American and European industry as the model, and the success and hopes for growth of Hasegawa's recently-founded chemical laboratory (see below for excerpts) ///// LETTER DESCRIPTION: TETSUTARO HASEGAWA, founder The Hasegawa Works in Tokyo, 1-page typed letter handsigned/TLS, 9" x 11-1/2"/about 200 words, letterhead The Hasegawa Works, Head Office, No.10 Sakuradakubocho Shiba-Ku with cable address and phone number, dated Tokyo, Jan. 25th, 1916, to George F. Kunz, 401 Fifth Ave., New York City, U. S. A. (Tiffany Building), reading in part, "I have established a laboratory a year ago with the object said in the statement [accompanying essay/prospectus, see following]…such a work as this requires a large sum of capital…there is a limit to my resources…ask you for material help…[or] if you have friends who are interested….", light normal agewear with some edgewear of small losses and short tears; signature and essay authenticated by seller with lifetime guarantee ///// ESSAY/PROSPECTUS DESCRIPTION: typed double-space, 4-1/4 pages held together at top by two clips, in upper left corner of each page typescript The Hasegawa Works, Tokyo, titled "The Hasegawa Chemical Laboratory"…excerpts — "Industry together with Commerce is the principal cause of National prosperity…If we place our eyes upon the present industrial status of the Western countries, we are amazed with an unconceivable progress of industries of all kinds…application of scientific principles to manufactures…This primitive conditions of our industry [compared to American and European industry] can be seen more clearly in the Chemical Industry…From the time of the outbreak of this great war [World War I], our people begun to wake up from a slumber of indifference in this direction of national activity…So we may say that the great European war gives us a great stimulation in our industry…At this memorial time, we must endeavor to promote the Chemical industry to keep out foreign articles and at the same time, to encourage more inventive and creative ideas of the people…Japan is rich in the materials for the chemical industries…[export to European countries, especially Germany]…How profitable it be, if we are only able to finish these original materials into medical as well as chemical products [rather than buy back the finished products made from Japanese materials from Germany and other countries]…The government has already calculated and presented the Bill to the Imperial Diet now in session, to establish a large laboratory for the Physical and Chemical Investigations…I have established a chemical laboratory a year ago, at Mokojima, on the bank of the Sumida River in the Suburb of Tokyo, and ever since I have continuously been endeavoring to contribute even a little towards the laying a foundation of chemical industry in our country…At our laboratory…we have investigated several inventions in regard to chemical products, such as dying materials, varnish, other articles…We have exhibited at the recent National Fair at Kyoto held for the Commemoration of the Imperial Coronation, and we received the Medal and Prize." ///// NOTES: T. HASAGAWA was established in 1903 as Hasegawa Totaro Shoten in Tokyo, Japan, by Totaro Hasegawa. In 1941, Shozo Hasegawa succeeded his father at the company. In 1961 T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd. was founded with Shozo Hasegawa as president and took over all business of Hasegawa Totaro Shoten…The strong demand for Hasegawa products resulted in establishing Hasegawa's first overseas production facilities in Lawndale, CA in 1978 and the formation of T. Hasegawa USA. In 1989 this production facility moved to the city of Cerritos, CA, where it is located to this day…Today's T. Hasegawa Co., Ltd. is a major producer of flavors and fragrances headquartered in Japan. As of 2017, it is one of world's top ten flavor and fragrances companies. (wikipedia); GEORGE F. KUNZ, 1856-1932, recipient of Hasegawa's letter was a prominent, influential mineralogist with diverse interests and a wide circle of acquaintances and contacts who was a member of the American Chemical Society among other prestigious organizations, at the age of 23 he was made a vice president at Tiffany's in New York City ///// CONDITION: well preserved, general light normal wear. all text legible.