OSAKA, Japan (BRAIN) — Shimano's chairman emeritus and former chairman Yoshizo Shimano died of chronic heart failure at 85 on July 3.
"The contributions he made to Shimano's business cannot be measured and his impact will be felt forever," the company said.
Yoshizo was the third son of company founder Shozaburo Shimano.
After earning his economics degree from Keio University in Tokyo, he briefly worked at an automobile sales company before joining Shimano Industrial Co., Ltd., now Shimano Inc. He established the company's first overseas operation, Shimano American Corporation in New York City in 1965; in 1972, he set up a European base in Dusseldorf, Germany.
He returned to Japan in 1992 and served as executive vice president and president of the company. He was named chairman of Shimano Inc. in March 2001 and became chairman emeritus the following year. He also served as chairman of Bicycle Association of Japan (now the General Bicycle Association), serving as its honorary chairman since 2011.
A private funeral was held attended by close relatives, including his surviving wife, Ikuko Shimano.
