Isao Okawa
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese
businessman and the former Chairman of Sega
.
, Japan
. As a young adult he studied at Waseda University
in Tokyo
. After graduating from Waseda he formed his own Computer Service Company, which later became known as CSK Holdings Corporation (CSK).
). Okawa provided over US$
40 million towards Sega Enterprises, mainly to fund Dreamcast. He forgave the debts Sega owed him and gave Sega Corporation his $695 million worth of Sega and CSK stock. As a result of this he is remembered by some as an iconic part of Sega's history. CSK also had a research institute which produced software for Sega's Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn
and Dreamcast consoles.
from his alma mater.
at Tokyo University Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 pm on the March 16, 2001. He was 74 years old.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
businessman and the former Chairman of Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
.
History
Okawa was born in OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. As a young adult he studied at Waseda University
Waseda University
, abbreviated as , is one of the most prestigious private universities in Japan and Asia. Its main campuses are located in the northern part of Shinjuku, Tokyo. Founded in 1882 as Tokyo Senmon Gakko, the institution was renamed "Waseda University" in 1902. It is known for its liberal climate...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. After graduating from Waseda he formed his own Computer Service Company, which later became known as CSK Holdings Corporation (CSK).
Involvement with CSK Holdings
CSK is a Japanese technology company formed by Okawa in 1968. The company mainly provides ICT services to numerous businesses throughout Japan. Okawa was the Chairman from 1968 until his death in 2001.Involvement with Sega
From 1984 until 2004, CSK had the majority of Sega shares. As a result, Okawa was the Chairman of Sega Enterprises. In 2004, CSK's shares were bought by Sammy, making Hajime Satomi the new CEO of Sega (Sega and Sammy merged to form Sega Sammy HoldingsSega Sammy Holdings
is a Japanese holding company formed from a merger of Sega and Sammy. They were both very involved in the arcade business , and Sega's main fame comes from their console systems.-Background:...
). Okawa provided over US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
40 million towards Sega Enterprises, mainly to fund Dreamcast. He forgave the debts Sega owed him and gave Sega Corporation his $695 million worth of Sega and CSK stock. As a result of this he is remembered by some as an iconic part of Sega's history. CSK also had a research institute which produced software for Sega's Mega Drive/Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
and Dreamcast consoles.
Honors
Okawa was recognized by the Japanese Government for his aid in financially supporting numerous Japanese technology companies, including Sega Enterprises. He also received an honorary doctorateHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from his alma mater.
Death
Okawa cause of death was heart failureCongestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
at Tokyo University Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 pm on the March 16, 2001. He was 74 years old.