(1585 – 1652)

Born in 1585 in Maruoka, Province of Echizen (now Maruoka-cho, Fukui Prefecture), Masatomo, the second son of a samurai family, went to Kyoto at the age of 12. It was a long-cherished dream of his parents for Masatomo to become a disciple of the priest Gyui Shonin Kugen, who was then leading a new sect of Buddhism called Nehan. Masatomo was named Kuzen, and practiced asceticism, acquiring the title of Monjuin. Later the Nehan Sect was deemed by the government to be one of the sects of Tendai. Displeased with this Masatomo left the priesthood, opening a shop for books and medicines under the name of Fujiya in Kyoto. This was during the Kan-ei era (1624 – 43), when Masatomo was 45 years of age. Despite his departure from the priesthood, many people wanted to follow Masatomo. He wrote many letters, such as Monjuin Shiigaki, Yuikai (instructions to descendants) etc. to his followers and family members. The teachings of Masatomo were to always keep in mind "honesty, mercy and purity" as primary morals, to respect gods and Buddha, to act with sufficient prudence and discreetness, and to be always frugal. These teachings, long handed down, form the basis of Sumitomo's corporate philosophy.