Chujiro Fujino
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He joined the old Mitsubishi Corporation in 1925 and became President after serving as Director, Managing Director, Senior Managing Director and Director and Executive Vice President. In 1963, when he was Senior Managing Director, a Brunei LNG proposal that the Shell group had brought to Tokyo Gas was passed to Mitsubishi Corporation because of contractual ties from the Alaska LNG project, and Chujiro Fujino became involved. Plant construction and LNG tanker building alone would cost $500 million, or ¥180 billion at the exchange rate of the time.
Selection
In 1965 he rose from Executive Vice President to succeed Kiyohiko Sho as President. In the 1960s Japan was pursuing heavy and chemical industrialization under its high-growth policy, and riding that momentum were the Mitsubishi Group, strong in heavy and chemical industries, and Mitsubishi Corporation, which was based on it. On the other hand, an organization-centered centralized system had stifled individual initiative and left the company lacking agility. He appears to have been given the role of rebuilding the organization while handling expanding trading rights.
Initiatives
In December 1967 the company decided to pursue Brunei LNG, formally deciding on the investment in November 1968. In December 1969 it established the production company Brunei LNG jointly with the Brunei government and Shell, and in June 1970 signed a 20-year long-term supply contract for 3.65 million tons a year with Tokyo Gas, Tokyo Electric Power and Osaka Gas. He argued that the role of trading companies was shifting from trading for commissions to developing and importing resources. In the half year ended September 1967 the company posted half-year revenue of ¥1,016.6 billion.
Career
Career
Mitsubishi Corporation
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| 1965 | President |
| 1973 | Stepped down as President |