Soichiro Fukutake

Soichiro Fukutake
Born1945 or 1946 (age 78–79)[1]
NationalityJapanese
EducationWaseda University
Occupationformer chairman of Benesse Corporation
SpouseMarried
ChildrenHideaki Fukutake

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.

Career

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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

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Fukutake is married, with one son Hideake, and lives in Auckland, New Zealand.[1]

Art "shrines"

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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

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  1. ^ a b c "The World's Billionaires: Soichiro Fukutake". Forbes. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e Adams, Susan. "Treasure Islands: Inside A Japanese Billionaire's Art Archipelago". forbes.com. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  3. ^ "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.