Yutaka Asō

Yutaka Asō (born August 28, 1946) is a Japanese businessman. He hails from Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture. His father is Taiga Yoshikichi Asō, and his older brother is Taro Aso, the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan. His mother is Yukiko Soma. His sister is Princess Nobuko, Countess Takamado.

In terms of education, he attended Matsutō Kindergarten, Keio Gijuku Elementary School, Keio Gijuku Junior High School, and Keio Gijuku Senior High School. He graduated in 1969 from the Faculty of Law at Keio University. He also completed studies at New College, Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

His career began working at Osawa Shōkai, and in 1977 he joined Asō Cement Co., Ltd. Since his older brother was the president at that time, he became president in 1979, and after the shareholders’ meeting in 2000, he took the position of chairman.

He holds several key positions, including Chairman of Asō Corporation and Asō Cement Co., Ltd. He is also the Honorary Chairman of the Kyushu Economic Federation, Chairman of Fukuoka Fukuwa Gakuen, and the current head of Asō Juku Educational Corporation. Additionally, he is the Chairman of the Fukuoka Regional Strategy Promotion Council, a councilor at the Tokyo Metropolitan Opera Foundation, and the Chairman of the Kyushu IR Promotion Council.

In public service, he served as a board member of the Tokyo Organizing Committee for the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, and previously held the position of Chairman of the Kyushu IR Promotion Council. He owns a vacation home in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, and as of 2010, he served as a director of the "Karuizawa Society."

Regarding family, he is the son of Taiga Yoshikichi Asō, brother to Taro Aso, sister to Yukiko Soma, and sister-in-law to Princess Nobuko, Countess Takamado. His grandfather is Taro Aso or Shigeru Yoshida (diplomat and politician), and his great-grandfathers include Tōkichi Asō (businessman and politician) and Tōsuke Mishima (politician). Notable figures in politics and business are among his ancestors.

His children include Isamu Asō (a director at Dwango and president of Asō Corporation) and Ken Asō (chairman of Asō Juku Educational Corporation). His nieces include Princess Akiko and Princess Yauko, and his nephew is Yukihiro Soma (the 34th head of the Ōshū Soma clan).

Historically, he has ancestral roots tracing back to prominent political figures such as former Prime Minister Taro Ōkubo and Tōkichi Mishima, among others.