In the early Meiji era in Japan, to import modern technologies, studies, and institutions, a large number of foreigners called “Oyatoi-gaikokujin" were hired not only in government offices but also in the private sector. This research focuses on the difference in the value of knowledge for each sector by using the financial data of “Oyatoi-gaikokujin" from 1874 to 1876 and multivariable analysis. The main results show that firms put high value on knowledge of the management, English studies, and commercial law. In the maritime shipping industry, steelmaking was most valuable. This study demonstrates that the source of knowledge of the development in Japan after the Meiji Restoration and people of those days had motivations to select and acquire knowledge.