Matsubara Kanshiro opened in 1865 a shop which was called Matsukan or Shokan Shoten. He started export business from the beginning of Meiji and tried mainly to sale Kutani ceramics to foreign company which had been established in Yokohama. In 1875 he opened a branch office in Yokohama and exported directly to overseas. He died when he was 72 years old, on June 14, 1895 in Yokohama, he had very well succeeded to expand his export activity. His son, Matsubara Kanji, originally named Tasaburo who was born in 1851 took over the business after the death of his father. He died in 1925 and was succeeded by Matsubara Kanji the 3rd, originally named Kichiji, born in 1886. He died in 1976.