Minoru Makihara

Minoru Makihara ( Makihara Minoru; January 12, 1930 – December 13, 2020) was a Japanese business executive who was the chief executive (1992–1998) and chairman (1998–2004) of Mitsubishi Corporation. He was noted for steering the group through the turbulent economic times of the 1990s and for advocating strong US–Japan business relations, serving on many trade and cultural relations advocacy groups.

Early life and education Makihara was born in London on January 12, 1930, to Haruko and Satoru Makihara. His father was a Mitsubishi executive there, and his mother was a kindergarten teacher, librarian, and writer. Some of the other notable students in his graduating class included future senator Edward Kennedy, and author John Updike. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa during his time at Harvard.

Reforms at Mitsubishi When Makihara took over as the chief executive, the Mitsubishi group was already Japan's largest trading company. However, the Japanese economy had just entered an economic recession, and the company had an unfavorable financial status, with high debts, low profits and an inward-facing management culture;

Trade advocacy He was an advocate for strong US–Japan business relations, through a period in which many Americans viewed Japanese resurgence as a threat to their own economic and global trade domination.

Personal life In 1957, Makihara married Kikuko Iwasaki, a childhood friend who was the great-granddaughter of the Mitsubishi Group's founder, Yataro Iwasaki. He was aged 90.