Insurance Tendencies in Japan

Abstract

AFTER the restoration of the Meiji, XJapan for the first time introduced the modern insurance system from Western countries. The Tokyo Marine Insurance Company was eatablished in 1879 (the twelfth year of the Meiji), and this company is the oldest among the existing home insurance companies in Japan. Two years later, in 1881, the Meiji Life Insurance Company was established, and this company is the oldest home life insurance company in Japan. The first fire insurance company, the Tokyo Fire Insurance Company, was established in 1888. Following these beginnings many additional insurance systems were inaugurated; namely, conscription insurance, accident insurance, forest fire insurance, transport insurance, automobile insurance, burglary insurance, glass insurance, fidelity insurance, boiler insurance, reinsurance, and so forth. In all, thirteen branches of insurance have been put into practice in Japan, and the years of commencement for the same are shown in Table I.