Beplat, Tristan, December 18, 1979

Tristan Beplat (1912-1997), born in New York City, attended the American Institute of Banking, where he studied international banking. He then studied management at Harvard University for graduate school. He took courses at the University of Virginia and Harvard about civil administration of occupied areas in 1945 to prepare him for the occupation of Japan. From October 1945 to March 1946, Beplat was the Assistant Chief of the Foreign Exchange Branch, Finance Division, Economic and Scientific Section (ESS), General Headquarters (GHQ-SCAP), Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers. From May 1946 to August 1946, he was the Chief of the Foreign Exchange Unit, Money and Banking Branch, ESS, GHQ-SCAP. Beplat was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946, but stayed in Japan and continued to work for the Army. Beplat established the Manufacturers Hanover Company in Tokyo, which was the first American bank in Japan after the war. He was an important part of the reconstruction of Japan’s economy after the war, helping to increase the value of the yen to 3.60 a dollar, compared to 2.50 to the dollar before the war. Beplat later returned to the United States and passed away at the age of 85.