Who are 5 richest individuals in Japan?

Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing

Tadashi Yanai, president of Fast Retailing. Photo courtesy of the company

Tadashi Yanai, 75, is the richest man in Japan with a net worth of $42.8 billion, up 31% year-on-year.

He grew up living above his parents' clothing store in a small town in southwestern Japan.

In 1991 he founded clothing company Fast Retailing, which is the parent of the Uniqlo chain which has 2,500 stores across 25 countries.

As president of Fast Retailing he eyes to make his company the world’s largest retailer, seeking to surpass H&M and Inditex (parent of Zara).

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group

Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank Group. Photo by Reuters

Masayoshi Son, 66, is the second richest person in Japan with a net worth of $32.7 billion, up 46% from last year.

He is the founder and CEO of investment giant SoftBank Group, which focuses on technology investment.

The group’s Vision Funds have invested in over 400 companies including ride-hailing Grab and India’s food-delivery platform Swiggy.

Apple, Qualcomm and Foxconn are among the investors of the fund.

Son is looking to raise $100 billion to fund an AI chip initiative codenamed Izanagi.

Takemitsu Takizaki, founder of Keyence

Takemitsu Takizaki, founder of Keyence. Photo by Toyo Keizai/AFLO

Takemitsu Takizaki, 78, has a net worth of $23.1 billion, up 10% from 2023.

He founded Keyence, a supplier of sensors and electronic components for factory automation systems.

He stepped down as chairman in March 2015 but remains on the board of directors and is honorary chairman.

Keyence’s customers include auto parts makers, electronics firms and food packagers.

In 2022, Takizaki donated shares worth nearly $3 billion the time to his foundation, the Tazaki Foundation, which provides support to young people who wish to study in the U.K.

Takahisa Takahara, president of Unicharm

Takahisa Takahara, president of Unicharm. Photo courtesy of the company

Takahisa Takahara, 62, ranks fourth in net worth at $6.4 billion, down 11% year-on-year.

He is the president and CEO of Tokyo-listed Unicharm, a maker of personal care products, which his late father Keiichiro founded in 1961.

The company makes a variety of products including diapers, sanitary napkins, face masks, alcohol-based wipes and other personal care goods.

Unicharm records two-thirds of its revenue from outside of Japan, mainly from other Asian countries.

Akio Nitori, founder of Nitori Holdings

Akio Nitori, founder of Nitori Holdings. Photo courtesy of the company

Akio Nitori wraps up the list with a net worth of $4.6 billion, up 39% year-on-year.

He founded discount home furnishings chain Nitori Holdings which has 900 stores, mostly in Japan. Other locations are China, Taiwan and the U.S.

Nitori opened the first store in 1967. He stepped down as president in 2016.

The company’s shares are traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.