Hirotaro Higuchi (樋口 廣太郎, Higuchi Hirotaro, January 25, 1926 - September 16, 2012) was a Japanese business executive, the representative director and president of The Sumitomo Bank, the representative director and president of Asahi Breweries, and the vice chairman of Keidanren.

Career

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Hirotaro Higuchi was born to the family running futon shop in Kyoto in 1926.[1] He graduated from Hikone Commercial College (now, Shiga University).[2][3] and joined Nomura Securities and got a new job in Nomura Bank (later, The Daiwa Bank, now, Resona Bank).[3] After leaving Nomura Bank, he entered Kyoto University in 1946.[3] In 1949, he graduated from Kyoto University[4] and joined The Sumitomo Bank.[4]

He moved up through the ranks to the level of director of The Sumitomo Bank in 1973, managing director thereof in 1975, representative & senior managing director thereof in 1979 and the representative director & vice president thereof in 1982.[4] After losing in the presidential race with Ichiro Isoda, in 1986, he became the advisor of Asahi Breweries which was then thought unrebuildable and the representative director & president thereof.[4] He became the representative director & chairman of the board of directors thereof in 1992 and director, advisor and honorary chairman in 1999.[4]

He also served as the vice chairman of Keidanren, the president of New National Theatre Foundation, the chairman of Osaka Securities Exchange and the special adviser to the Cabinet.[5][4][6][7]

References

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