Shoichiro Irimajiri (入交 昭一郎, Irimajiri Shōichirō; born on January 3, 1940, in Kochi, Japan) is a Japanese engineer and…
Shoichiro Irimajiri (入交 昭一郎, Irimajiri Shōichirō; born on January 3, 1940, in Kochi, Japan) is a Japanese engineer and businessman. He earned an aeronautical engineering degree from the University of Tokyo and worked for Honda Motor Co., Ltd. for 20 years, overseeing the introduction of its CBX motorcycle, design of their F1 racing engines for the RA273 as well as being the president of Honda of America Inc. He resigned in 1992 due to a heart problem, and started a Chinese traditional treatment to restore his condition. During this time, it was said that General Motors recruited Irimajiri for a senior executive position at the company, in light of his success at Honda. While he declined that position and accepted a spot as an outside director, if Irimajiri had accepted the offer, he would have been the first Japanese-born automotive executive of an American automobile manufacturer. After his recovery, Hayao Nakayama, then president of Sega Enterprises, asked him to become vice president of the company. In 1996, he additionally became chairman and CEO of Sega of America. He became president of Sega in 1998, when he laid an ambitious plan using the Dreamcast to restore Sega's lost market share and prestige, which took a severe downfall following the flawed launches of the Sega Saturn and the Sega 32X. After Sega reported its third consecutive loss, Irimajiri resigned and Isao Okawa took his place. While president of Sega he invested $5 million into Nvidia, after the tiny Silicon Valley startup had failed to deliver on its contract to create the graphics chip for the Dreamcast. Jensen Huang has publicly expressed his gratitude to Irimajiri for helping to keep Nvidia alive. Nvidia went public in 1999, and in 2000, after Irimajiri had left, Sega sold its Nvidia stock for $15 million. In 2017, Huang returned the favor by honoring a request from Irimajiri to speak to a small group of business leaders while visiting Japan. Irimajiri's most recent position was as chairman of Asahi Tec, a Japanese manufacturer of aluminum parts and castings for automobiles, owned by Ripplewood Holdings.
Famous People from Kochi Prefecture
Kochi Prefecture: 9 people
Baron Kumakichi Nakajima (中島久万吉, Nakajima Kumakichi; 24 July 1873 – 25 April 1960) was an entrepreneur, politician and…
Baron Kumakichi Nakajima (中島久万吉, Nakajima Kumakichi; 24 July 1873 – 25 April 1960) was an entrepreneur, politician and cabinet minister in the pre-war Empire of Japan.
Baron Hisaya Iwasaki was a 19th- and 20th-century Japanese industrialist who served as the third head of the unified…
Baron Hisaya Iwasaki was a 19th- and 20th-century Japanese industrialist who served as the third head of the unified Mitsubishi.
Takeda Hideo (武田 秀雄; November 16, 1863 – February 16, 1942) was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. In…
Takeda Hideo (武田 秀雄; November 16, 1863 – February 16, 1942) was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy. In retirement he served as President of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding and of Mitsubishi Electric.
Seito Saibara (西原 清東, Saibara Seitō; October 11, 1861 – April 11, 1939) was a Japanese parliament member, politician…
Seito Saibara (西原 清東, Saibara Seitō; October 11, 1861 – April 11, 1939) was a Japanese parliament member, politician, administrator, colonist, and farmer. Apart from his missionary activities, he is credited with having first established the rice industry on the Gulf Coast of the United States.
Baron Iwasaki Yanosuke (岩崎 彌之助; February 8, 1851 – March 25, 1908) was a Japanese banker, businessman, investor, and…
Baron Iwasaki Yanosuke (岩崎 彌之助; February 8, 1851 – March 25, 1908) was a Japanese banker, businessman, investor, and politician. After his brother Yataro's death in 1885, he succeeded to the presidency of Mitsubishi, one of Japan's largest conglomerates (zaibatsu). He served as the 4th Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ). He was created a Baron in 1900, and he was a member of Japan's House of Peers.
Count Gotō Shōjirō (後藤 象二郎; 13 April 1838 – 4 August 1897) was a Japanese samurai and politician during the Bakumatsu…
Count Gotō Shōjirō (後藤 象二郎; 13 April 1838 – 4 August 1897) was a Japanese samurai and politician during the Bakumatsu and early Meiji period of Japanese history. He was a leader of Freedom and People's Rights Movement (自由民権運動, jiyū minken undō) which would evolve into a political party.
Kawada Koichirō (川田 小一郎; October 4, 1836 – November 7, 1896) was a Japanese businessman, central banker and the 3rd…
Kawada Koichirō (川田 小一郎; October 4, 1836 – November 7, 1896) was a Japanese businessman, central banker and the 3rd Governor of the Bank of Japan (BOJ). He was created a Baron; and he was a member of Japan's House of Peers.
Iwasaki Yatarō (岩崎 弥太郎; January 9, 1835 – February 7, 1885) was a Japanese industrialist and financier known as the…
Iwasaki Yatarō (岩崎 弥太郎; January 9, 1835 – February 7, 1885) was a Japanese industrialist and financier known as the founder of Mitsubishi, one of Japan's largest conglomerates.