Hiroshi Yasuda

Hiroshi Yasuda (born March 8, 1933 – July 31, 2023) was a Japanese businessman and officer of educational corporation. He served as a director of Jardine Matheson (Japan), an advisor to Yasuda Real Estate, and the chairman of Yasuda Gakuen Educational Foundation. Additionally, he was active as an senior advisor at JP Morgan Asset Management, a senior advisor at Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, and an auditor of Secom Co., Ltd.

Hiroshi Yasuda was the great-grandson of Zenjiro Yasuda, the founder of the Yasuda Zaibatsu. Born in Tokyo, he was raised as the eldest son. His educational background includes graduating from Gakushuin University’s Faculty of Economics and studying abroad at Boston University in the United States. His career began at Okinawa Electric Industry, affiliated with the former Yasuda Zaibatsu, after which he built his career at Jardine Matheson & Co. (Japan).

In January 1979, he was appointed director of Jardine Matheson & Co. (Japan), and in February 1986, he was promoted to president of the company. In April 1989, he became chairman. In 1991, he was appointed chairman of Yasuda Commerce and Education Association (now Yasuda Gakuen Educational Foundation), initiating reforms for the school established by his grandfather. As part of these reforms, the school, originally a boys’ school with a commercial and industrial curriculum, was transformed into a coeducational high school offering general education.

In June 1993, he became an advisor to Yasuda Real Estate. In January 1999, he was appointed representative of Japan Jardine Fleming Group, and after the group was acquired by JP Morgan Chase, the company’s name was changed to JP Morgan Fleming Asset Management Japan. He retired from this role as director and senior advisor in January 2002.

In 2003, he became an auditor of Secom Co., Ltd. In September 2004, he was appointed CEO of Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, a property planned to open in the upper floors of the Nipponbashi Mitsui Tower, affiliated with Jardine Matheson. He resigned from the position of senior advisor in March 2006. In November 2009, a celebration was held with approximately 100 alumni of Jardine Matheson.

He passed away on July 31, 2023, at the age of 90 due to natural causes. On October 25, 2023, a farewell gathering was held at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, attended by about 750 people in his memory.

His publications include contributions to the "Securities Analyst Journal" with an article titled "Jardine at the End of the Edo Period" (November 1999, pages 57–59), and a co-authored work published by Diamond Inc., “Build a capitalist system that links with foreign economies!” (January 1999, pages 27–31).

In terms of family relations, he was a cousin of Taro Aso (the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan) and related to Yoko Ono (avant-garde artist and musician, wife of John Lennon). Yoko Ono’s maternal great-grandfather was related by marriage to Zenjiro Yasuda.

The Felio Group is also a related topic.