Masashi Shimizu
Profile
Performance in office
Tenure
Tenure
Background
He graduated from Keio University in 1924, joined Hanshin Kyuko Railway, and became President of Hankyu Department Stores in February 1947. He became a Director of Toho in September 1955 and had not worked in film production or distribution. While President he also served as Chairman of Hankyu Department Stores and President of Toho Real Estate, and after his first term he served as Chairman of Keihanshin Kyuko Railway (now Hankyu Corporation) and President of Hankyu Realty. He was an executive who came from the Hankyu group's department store and real estate side built by Ichizo Kobayashi.
Selection
He became a Toho Director in September 1955 and President two years later, in October 1957. In March 1957 Tatsuro Matsuoka had joined the board, and department heads in sales and the studios were also promoted to Director one after another. Total revenue for the FY ended January 1958 was ¥9.588 billion and net income ¥458 million. It was just before annual attendance at Japanese films began falling from its 1958 peak of about 1,127.45 million, and the appointment appears to have placed a department store and real estate executive at the head of the parent company while the box office was still growing.
Initiatives
On May 1, 1958, the year after he took office, he set up a Real Estate Utilization Committee at headquarters to review theater space and idle land, and began building mixed-use buildings. In the company's buildings in Hibiya, Yurakucho and Shinjuku, cinemas were confined to the first and second floors, and 70% to 80% of the total floor area was leased to shopping arcades and restaurants. He became Chairman in September 1966, returned as President in August 1974, and moved to Senior Adviser in May 1977. In the FY ended January 1975, during his second term, land and building rental income was ¥1.90 billion of net sales of ¥34.0 billion, close to film production and distribution income of ¥3.33 billion.
Career
Career
Toho
| Date | Position |
|---|---|
| Oct 1957 | Representative Director, President |
| Sep 1966 | Stepped down as President |
| Aug 1974 | Representative Director, President |
| May 1977 | Stepped down as President |