ABSTRACT
Following the dissolution of the Ministry of Public Works in 1886, Ōhara moved into the private sector. During his tenure at Fujita-gumi in Iwami, he quickly rose through the ranks to the role of manager of the Ōmori mine. In this capacity, he fulfilled the role envisaged for a graduate of the ICE, namely that of an engineer and manager who possessed both technical knowledge and business skills. When the implementation of a novel technical process for silver extraction failed, Ōhara took responsibility and resigned. His new assignment was to investigate the circumstances surrounding a newly acquired gold mine in Taiwan. On his return journey to the Fujita-gumi headquarters, Ōhara died unexpectedly at the age of only 37.
