Founded by Okura Kihachiro in the early Meiji period, the Okura zaibatsu did business with the government and the military during the period, and accumulated wealth through its foreign trade activities.
From late Meiji through the Taisho period, it carried out a vigorous policy of diversification. One area into which it moved was mining, it ran coal and metal mining operation both at home and overseas. It also invested in numerous activities in China, beginning with mining and forestry, and also lent funds to political authorities there. As, a result, the zaibatsu saw tremendous expansion in the Taisho period, particularly in its three major fields-trade, construction and mining.
But with the recession in the early Showa period and with the chaotic political situation in China, Okura run up substantial losses. Faced with meager profits and a lack of investment capital, the zaibatsu was unable to invest in any new areas, including heavy industry. Growth for Okura was severely restricted and the gap between it and Mitsui and Mitsubishi widened considerably.