Nui Onoue

Nui Onoue (大野 ぬい, Ōno Nui, likely born late 19th century, died early 20th century) was a Japanese businesswoman, financier, and stock manipulator who became known as the "Queen of Speculation" (相場女王, Sōba Joō) during the Taishō era. She amassed a significant fortune through trading in stocks and commodities, primarily cotton yarn, taking advantage of market volatility during World War I and its aftermath.

Onoue's financial prowess and aggressive trading tactics initially led to substantial profits. However, she eventually overextended herself, and her business empire collapsed due to excessive borrowing and market downturns. Her downfall is considered a contributing factor to the financial crisis that gripped Japan in the early 1920s. The Onoue Incident (大野事件, Ōno Jiken), as her financial collapse came to be known, resulted in significant losses for banks and investors across the country. Her story serves as a cautionary tale of unchecked speculation and the potential instability it can create in financial markets. Despite the ultimately negative impact of her actions, Onoue remains a notable figure in Japanese financial history, demonstrating the power and the perils of speculative trading.