To Manchuria, Taiwan, and Further South
Even in his later years, Noguchi’s passion for business remained strong, and he started companies in Manchuria, Taiwan, and Hainan Island. He dreamt of developing hydroelectric power on the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers, and developments across Asia, including the Philippines, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, and the Malay Peninsula. Around this time, Noguchi often said that business was his life, and that he would continue working until he died.
Just as he was dreaming up new ideas and boldly working on new projects with passion, he suddenly fell ill while in Seoul in February 1940.