Minoru Mori

Minoru Mori
森 稔
Mori in 2006
BornAugust 24, 1934
DiedMarch 8, 2012(2012-03-08) (aged 77)
NationalityJapanese
EducationUniversity of Tokyo
OccupationReal estate tycoon
Known for"The World's Billionaires: #721 Minoru Mori". Forbes. March 3, 2010.
SpouseMarried
Children2 children
ParentTaikichiro Mori (father)
RelativesAkira Mori (brother)

Minoru Mori (森 稔, Mori Minoru, August 24, 1934 – March 8, 2012) was considered to be one of Japan's most powerful and influential building tycoons.[1] He joined the real estate business of his father, Taikichiro Mori, after graduating from the University of Tokyo and was president and CEO of Mori Building, of which he and his older brother Kei's (a university professor) families owned 100%. He owned 12.74% of Sunwood Corporation.[2]

The family name is found on many real estate developments in Japan. Minoru and his brother Akira were listed on the Forbes list of the world's richest men. His largest project was the Roppongi Hills development in Tokyo, which opened in 2003. The Shanghai World Financial Center, once China's tallest building, was completed in 2008. Mori acknowledged the influence of Le Corbusier but believed he had surpassed the Swiss architect's urban designs, particularly in the Roppongi Hills project.

In 2006, Mori's last development, Omotesando Hills, opened near Harajuku station consisting of a set of ramped shopping floors.

In 2008, he was named Asia Businessman of the Year 2007 by Fortune magazine.[3]

In 2009, he was honoured as an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. He died of heart failure in 2012.[4] He was 77.

  1. ^ Sposato, William. "Minoru Mori, Japanese Real Estate Magnate, Dies - WSJ.com". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
  2. ^ "Sunwood Corp. shareholder structure". 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  3. ^ Chandler, Clay (2008). "Fortune Article - Asia Businessman of the Year". CNN. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  4. ^ Minoru Mori, Builder Who Changed the Face of Modern Tokyo, Dies at 77, New York Times, 14 March 2012