Since Shozo did not have any children to take over his business, he chose Kojiro MATSUKATA, the third son of Masayoshi MATSUKATA, as his successor due to Masayoshi coming from the same village as himself and being the benefactor in the early days of the business.
事実上、後継者がいなかった正蔵は、同郷の先輩であり自分の事業の恩人でもあった松方正義の三男・松方幸次郎を後継者に選ぶ。