Sumitomo soriji (leader of Sumitomo group), Saihei HIROSE, who coped with and came through the confusion of the Meiji Restoration and made an effort to reestablish the company, carried out a selection of the successor, in cooperation with his nephew and, at the same time, assistant, Teigo IBA.
明治維新の混乱期を切り抜け、再建に努力してきた住友総理事広瀬宰平は、その甥で補佐の地位にあった伊庭貞剛と協力し、その後継者の選定にあたる。