Noted Japanese Businessman. Born in Osaka Japan, while attending the University of Tokyo, he founded Fujita Shoten, an importer of high-quality general merchandise. In 1971 he founded and became president of McDonald’s Japan Company, Ltd. Under his leadership over the years, the burger chain grew to more than 3,000 stores nationwide and the largest McDonald franchise outside of the United States. He also opened Japan’s first branches of Toys “R” Us stores. Forbes magazine reported in February 2004, that his family fortune, which included a 23 percent stake in McDonald’s Japan, totaled $1.3 billion. Cause of death, heart failure.  (bio by: John “J-Cat” Griffith)