IN 1903, NEGOTIATIONS with Russia had become increasingly difficult. On October 17, Eiichi was working in his office in Kabutochō as usual when he received a high-ranking and unannounced visitor: Vice-Chief of the General Staff General Kodama Gentarō. Kodama was known as a brilliant military strategist.

Among men in the military, Kodama was even-tempered and rather taciturn. He chose his words carefully and had the ability to quickly and unerringly communicate complex issues. Eiichi was not well acquainted with Kodama but thought he did not have the offensive quality of a schemer, as smart people sometimes tend to be. Eiichi saw that Kodama was intelligent and reliable, and he believed that the general did not disdain him for being a businessman, as was still the tendency in those times.

Kodama opened the conversation by saying, “I came today to discuss an important matter. Do you have time now to hear me out?” Eiichi replied in the affirmative. Even if his visitor had not been as eminent as Kodama, he believed in giving his full attention to whoever was before him at a particular moment. No matter what their status or occupation, Eiichi made a point of meeting with everyone who called on him, listening carefully to what they had to say, giving thoughtful answers to their questions, and offering appropriate advice. Therefore, he spent a lot of time with visitors, and given how busy he was, his workdays stretched even longer. Kindness and sincerity were part and parcel of Eiichi's character, and these qualities were also the source of his unparalleled popularity.

Kodama told Eiichi that relations between Japan and Russia had reached a new low. Things having come to this pass, he said, he wanted Japan's business world to be prepared for war. He said he knew that Eiichi was an advocate of peace and respected him for his stance but that those calling for war should no longer be confined only to the military. If business and industry were to lean in favor of war, Russia would see that Japan was strong and presented a united front, and depending on how things panned out, there might be a final chance to attain peace.