Ichizo Kobayashi
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
In August 1932 he founded Tokyo Takarazuka Theater Co. with capital of ¥1.7 million to stage the Takarazuka Revue in Tokyo, and was chosen as its first President by mutual vote of the directors at the founding meeting. He wrote the prospectus himself, laying out a plan to buy 1,200 tsubo of land facing Hibiya Park, build a theater seating about 3,000, and charge ¥2 for first-class and 50 sen for third-class seats. After opening Takarazuka theaters in Yokohama, Nagoya and Kyoto, the Umeda Movie Theater in Osaka and Hankyu Kaikan in Kobe to build the Toho chain in major cities, he stepped back from the front line in May 1937.
Selection
After three labor disputes, Toho had by January 1948 accumulated losses double its capital of ¥40 million, and in March 1950 Shintoho, which had broken away from the group, began distributing on its own, dealing a blow to Toho's distribution business. Fusao Kobayashi, who became President in September 1950, set out a five-point reconstruction plan that put Hankyu's support first and worked to clear high-interest debt and loss-making divisions. Even so, the FY ended January 1951 brought a net loss of ¥695 million on revenue of ¥2.199 billion. His purge from public office was lifted in August 1951, and the founder returned as President the following month. Inside the company, the watchword had been 'until we welcome back Itsuo,' his pen name.
Initiatives
Having lost its in-house production with Shintoho's departure, the company set up Takarazuka Eiga in August 1951 and Tokyo Eiga in May 1952 and contracted them to make films for distribution, rebuilding the integrated production-distribution-exhibition model it had established in 1943. Annual output at the three studios reached 67 films in 1954. In September 1952 the company transferred ¥180 million of its asset revaluation reserve to capital, doubling capital to ¥720 million, and in March 1953 restored a 15% dividend. In July 1955 it merged the Imperial Theatre, which had been spun off in July 1950, bringing capital to ¥800 million.
Career
Career
Toho
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Sep 1951 | Representative Director, President |
| Sep 1955 | Stepped down as President |