Soichiro Fukutake (福武 總一郎, Fukutake Sōichirō, born 1945) is a Japanese billionaire, and the former chairman of the Benesse Corporation, a publishing firm and juku company known for its patronage of the arts.
Soichiro Fukutake | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 or 1946 (age 78–79)[1] |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Education | Waseda University |
| Occupation | former chairman of Benesse Corporation |
| Spouse | Married |
| Children | Hideaki Fukutake |
Career edit
Fukutake inherited Benesse, which his father founded in 1955 as Fukutake Publishing.[2] After his father's death in 1986, he renamed it Benesse (Latin for well-being), and expanded the company, and his family owns 15% of the company.[1][2] Benesse owns 275 nursing homes in Japan and the Berlitz language schools.[2]
Personal life edit
Fukutake is married, with one son Hideake, and lives in Auckland, New Zealand.[1]
Art "shrines" edit
He has created four museums or "art shrines" on the islands of Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima in an archipelago in Japan's southern Seto Inland Sea, including the Chichu Art Museum.[2][3] They have been built in collaboration with the architect Tadao Ando.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b c "The World's Billionaires: Soichiro Fukutake". Forbes. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ a b c d e Adams, Susan. "Treasure Islands: Inside A Japanese Billionaire's Art Archipelago". forbes.com. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ "Why Japanese Billionaire Soichiro Fukutake Created Art Shrines on Four Different Islands - The Peak Singapore - Your Guide to The Finer Things in Life". thepeakmagazine.com.sg. 22 December 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
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