Difference between revisions of "Isao Okawa"

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[[File:Isao Okawa.jpg|right]]
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{{PersonBob
'''Isao Okawa''' was President of [[Sega]] between 2000 and 2001. He was born in Osaka, Japan In 1926. As a young adult he studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. After graduating from Waseda he formed his own Computer Service Company, which later became known as CSK Holdings Corporation. In 1984, the company, then a multibillion dollar Japanese conglomerate, bought Sega, renamed it to Sega Enterprises Ltd., and headquartered it in Japan. Two years later, shares of its stock were being traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In 1999, [[Hayao Nakayama]] left Sega, making Okawa Assistant President of Sega. In 2000, [[Shoichiro Irimajiri]] left [[Sega]], making Okawa the new president of Sega. This did not last long; on 9th March 2001, Okawa died of heart failure at Tokyo University Hospital at the age of 74. After Okawa's death, [[Hisao Oguchi]], then the president of [[Hitmaker]], became President of Sega.
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| image=Isao Okawa.jpg
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| birthplace=Osaka, Japan
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| dob=1926-05-19
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| dod=2001-03-16
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| company=
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| role=Executive
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| education=Waseda University, Tokyo
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}}
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (大川 功) served as Chairman for [[Sega]] between 1984 and 2001. After graduating from Waseda he formed his own Computer Service Company, which later became known as CSK Holdings Corporation. In 1984, the company, then a multi-billion dollar Japanese conglomerate, bought Sega, renamed it to Sega Enterprises Ltd., and headquartered it in Japan. Two years later, shares of its stock were being traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
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In 1999, [[Hayao Nakayama]] left Sega, with Okawa taking his place as assistant president of the company. The following year, [[Shoichiro Irimajiri]] left, and Okawa was promoted to president. He inherited a company struggling in the video game console marketplace and is said to have tried extremely hard to keep the company afloat. He was engaged in talks with [[Microsoft]] in an attempt to get their [[Xbox]] console to run [[Sega Dreamcast]] games, and is said to have invested US$900 million from his personal fortune to help the company avoid bankruptcy.
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On March 16, 2001, Okawa died of heart failure at Tokyo University Hospital at the age of 74. He was succeeded as president by [[Hideki Sato]].
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==Production history==
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{{ProductionHistory|Isao Okawa|ISAO OOKAWA|おおかわ いさお|大川 功}}
  
==Production History==
 
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) — Executive supervisor
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' (1998) — Executive supervisor
* ''[[ChuChu Rocket!]]'' (Dreamcast Version)  (1999) — Executive Supervisor
 
* ''[[Space Channel 5]]'' (1999) — Very Very Very Executive Producer
 
* ''[[D-2]]'' (1999) — Special Thanks
 
* ''[[Samba de Amigo]]'' (2000) — Executive Supervisor
 
* ''[[Samba de Amigo|Samba de Amigo Ver. 2000]]'' (2000) — Executive Supervisor, Executive Producer
 
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' (2001) — Executive Producer
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2]]'' (2001) — Executive Producer
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' (2001) — Executive Producer
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure 2: Battle]]'' (2001) — Executive Producer
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' (2003) — Executive Supervisor (Sonic Adventure DX Staff)
 
* ''[[Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut]]'' (2003) — Executive Supervisor (Sonic Adventure DX Staff)
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==References==
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<references />
  
 
{{SegaJPExecs}}
 
{{SegaJPExecs}}
 
[[Category:Sega Executives|Okawa, Isao]]
 

Revision as of 21:43, 20 November 2018

Isao Okawa.jpg
Isao Okawa
Place of birth: Osaka, Japan
Date of birth: 1926-05-19
Date of death: 2001-03-16 (age 74)
Role(s): Executive
Education: Waseda University, Tokyo

Isao Okawa (大川 功) served as Chairman for Sega between 1984 and 2001. After graduating from Waseda he formed his own Computer Service Company, which later became known as CSK Holdings Corporation. In 1984, the company, then a multi-billion dollar Japanese conglomerate, bought Sega, renamed it to Sega Enterprises Ltd., and headquartered it in Japan. Two years later, shares of its stock were being traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In 1999, Hayao Nakayama left Sega, with Okawa taking his place as assistant president of the company. The following year, Shoichiro Irimajiri left, and Okawa was promoted to president. He inherited a company struggling in the video game console marketplace and is said to have tried extremely hard to keep the company afloat. He was engaged in talks with Microsoft in an attempt to get their Xbox console to run Sega Dreamcast games, and is said to have invested US$900 million from his personal fortune to help the company avoid bankruptcy.

On March 16, 2001, Okawa died of heart failure at Tokyo University Hospital at the age of 74. He was succeeded as president by Hideki Sato.

Production history

References


SEGA of Japan Executives
Chairmen Isao Okawa (1984-2001) | Hajime Satomi (2004-current)
Presidents Hayao Nakayama (1984-1998) | Shoichiro Irimajiri (1998-2001) | Hideki Sato (2001-2003) | Hisao Oguchi (2003-2008) | Okitane Usui (2008-2012) | Naoya Tsurumi (2012-current) | Hideki Okamura (2014-current) | Haruki Satomi (2015-current)