阪急はんきゅう阪神はんしんHD 角すみ和夫かずお元もと会長かいちょうが死去しきょ

In addition to railways and distribution, Kazuo Sumi, who served as chairman and president of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings—a company engaged in a wide range of businesses including the Hanshin Tigers and the Takarazuka Revue—passed away on April 26.

He was 76 years old.

Mr. Sumi, who is from Hyogo Prefecture, joined Hankyu Corporation in 1973 and became president in 2003.

In 2005, an investment fund led by Yoshiaki Murakami acquired nearly half of the shares of Hanshin Electric Railway, Hankyus longtime rival, becoming its largest shareholder.

Mr. Kado bought Hanshin shares from Mr. Murakami and led the first management integration between major private railway companies since the war.

In addition to its railway, distribution, and real estate businesses, he led the group for about 20 years as chairman and president of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, which also operates the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team and the Takarazuka Revue.

He also served as a director at H2O Retailing, which owns related companies such as Hankyu Hanshin Department Stores, as well as at Toho and other companies.

On the other hand, regarding the issue of a Takarazuka Revue Cosmos Troupe member who died in 2023, as the top executive of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings, he acknowledged that there had been power harassment from senior members and others, and apologized to the bereaved family.

The way the opera company is managed has come under serious scrutiny.

In addition, since 2011, he had also served as Vice Chairman of the Kansai Economic Federation Kankeiren, and was known as one of the leading business executives representing the Kansai business community.

Mr. Sumi stepped down as chairman of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings last December for health reasons, but passed away at his home in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture, on the 26th of last month.

He was 76 years old.