Collective Wealth Of Japan’s 50 Richest On Forbes List Falls By Nearly A Third To $170 Billion

Jun 1, 2022 | Business

Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai reclaims the No.1 spot

SINGAPORE – WEBWIRE –



Global headwinds blew away nearly a third of the combined wealth of Japan’s 50 richest, shrinking their collective net worth to US$170 billion. The complete list of Japan’s 50 richest on the 2022 Forbes list can be found at www.forbes.com/japan and www.forbesjapan.com/feat/japanrich, as well as in the June issue of Forbes Asia.


Soaring energy and commodity prices, as well as supply chain disruptions, dashed Japan’s hopes of an economic rebound. The yen fell 17% against the dollar since fortunes were last measured in April 2021. The meltdown extended to the stock market, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index declining 12% in the same period. Overall, the wealth of 38 members on the list dropped from a year ago.


Clothing retailer Tadashi Yanai, who was the second richest last year, reclaimed the title of the country’s richest person. However, his fortune slid 44% to $23.6 billion as a sales slowdown in the domestic market and in China affected shares of his Fast Retailing, the parent of the Uniqlo store chain. Takemitsu Takizaki, founder of sensor-maker Keyence, climbs to No. 2 for the first time with $21.6 billion, although his wealth too declined by $4.2 billion from a year ago.


Rounding out the top three is SoftBank Group founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, whose net worth more than halved to $21.1 billion. Son, ranked No. 1 last year, took the biggest hit in both dollar and percentage terms. Amid a global tech rout, SoftBank’s two Vision Funds reported a record $27 billion loss for the year ended March 2022. Apart from Son, a dozen others saw their fortunes fall by more than $1 billion.


Despite the turbulence, six newcomers overcame the odds to make their debut this year. They include the Sekiya family (No. 20, $2 billion), whose company Disco makes semiconductor processing equipment; scientist-turned-entrepreneur Keiichi Shibahara (No. 34, $1.35 billion), who founded Amvis Holdings to provide hospice care; Japanese beauty brand DHC’s founder Yoshiaki Yoshida (No. 44, $1.03 billion) and Hachiro Honjo (No. 48, $950 million), chairman of Ito En, a maker of canned and bottled teas.


Three returned to the list after dropping off last year. They include online gaming tycoon Yoshikazu Tanaka (No. 43, $1.04 billion), founder and CEO of Gree, which gained traction from the launch of two new titles.


Nine dropped from the ranks, including Shintaro Yamada, founder and CEO of used-goods marketplace app Mercari, who was the biggest percentage gainer in the 2021 list. Shares of the company tumbled as it racked up losses in the nine months ended March 2022, partly due to a decline in listings.


The minimum net worth to make the list was $925 million, down from $1.15 billion last year.


The top 10 richest in Japan are:

  1. Tadashi Yanai; US$23.6 billion
  2. Takemitsu Takizaki; $21.6 billion
  3. Masayoshi Son; $21.1 billion
  4. Nobutada Saji; $9.3 billion
  5. Takahisa Takahara; $6.4 billion
  6. Shigenobu Nagamori; $4.6 billion
  7. Hiroshi Mikitani; $4.4 billion
  8. Masatoshi Ito; $4.35 billion
  9. Hideyuki Busujima; $4.2 billion
  10. Masahiro Noda; $3.5 billion

This list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, annual reports and analysts. The ranking lists both individual and family fortunes, including those shared among relatives. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded. Net worths were based on stock prices and exchange rates as of the close of markets on May 13, 2022. The list can also include foreign citizens with business, residential or other ties to the country, or citizens who don’t reside in the country but have significant business or other ties to the country.


For more information, visit www.forbes.com/japan and www.forbesjapan.com/feat/japanrich


About Forbes


Forbes champions success by celebrating those who have made it, and those who aspire to make it. Forbes convenes and curates the most influential leaders and entrepreneurs who are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. The Forbes brand today reaches more than 150 million people worldwide through its trusted journalism, signature LIVE and Forbes Virtual events, custom marketing programs and 47 licensed local editions in 80 countries. Forbes Media’s brand extensions include real estate, education and financial services license agreements.


Forbes recently announced plans to go public through a business combination with Magnum Opus (NYSE: OPA), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

The Reebok Collective collaborates with Upcycler Justin Mensinger to launch a meaningful mental health initiative, “Pieces of Us” capsule collection

Dec 16, 2021 | Business



The Reebok Collective, a group organized by Reebok to create an inclusive community of acceptance and belonging, has partnered with decorated upcycle designer Justin Mensinger to advocate for mental health awareness with their “Pieces of Us” limited-edition sweatshirt collection.  Mensinger, winner of a hit fashion and streetwear design series, created six one-of-a-kind eco-conscious designs that highlight mental health messages and feature repurposed patchwork pieces from the closets of the Reebok Collective’s very own members including Broderick Hunter, Lazarus Lynch, Richie Shazam, Amrit Sidhu, Maxwell Pearce, and Kendra Oyesana. The six sweatshirts will be auctioned off on the world’s leading impact marketplace, Charitybuzz, in January with all proceeds going to Reebok’s non-profit partner BOKS, an organization that aims to instill positive physical and mental health practices into every child’s daily routine.  The holidays can be a rather emotional time for all and, through this initiative, Reebok looks to further its mission to provide inspiration and mental health support to underserved communities.


“The Reebok Collective was created to celebrate the stories of individuals who champion and advocate for various causes and platforms. One common denominator that unites this group is our belief in the importance of individuality and mental health,” said Nicole Adriance, Director, US Brand Activation, Reebok.  “We’re so proud to bring this group and Justin Mensinger together to create an incredibly unique collection that advocates for a topic we all feel passionate about.”


“I wanted the pieces in this collection to tie together cohesively but also have their own unique look and feel. Each piece of clothing that previously held someone’s energy and style came together to create a new story and new garment that someone else can enjoy,” said Justin Mensinger.  “With the inspirational quotes gathered from our Reebok Collective members I was able to add messages that are universal reminders to each of us. I can’t wait for the world to see this collection.”


To launch this collection, the Reebok Collective created a video piece where viewers will be able to watch the unique process the Reebok Collective and Mensinger took to create each striking “Pieces of Us” bespoke item behind-the-scenes.  The short film will also feature the members of The Reebok Collective who will look to discuss how they believe clothing to be a portal for expression and stress relief.  The quilted-together nature of Mensinger’s garments are more than just a symbol of the collective’s own closets but also a shared statement that speaks to the importance of movement and well-being.


Truly unique in both concept and execution, Mensinger’s garments are original pieces of art. While entirely online, the bidding process will work as usual, with the highest bidder claiming the prize and all proceeds raised from the auction going directly to BOKS, along with an additional monetary donation from Reebok to support the BOKS community.


“BOKS was founded on science that shows how big an impact our physical health has on our mental health,” said Kathleen Tullie, founder and executive director of BOKS. “Kids today have had a uniquely challenging experience and we continue to see a rise in mental health issues due to the pandemic. If just one kid who is struggling uses BOKS to improve their overall mental and physical wellbeing we’ve done our job. Partnerships like this allow BOKS to reach more kids across the globe, and for that, we are extremely grateful.”


Be sure to check out the “Pieces of Us” capsule auction on Charitybuzz in January. For more information on the collection, visit https://www.reebok.com/us/blog.