Memorials/Isao Okawa

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Isao Okawa
b. May 19th, 1926

-

d. March 16th, 2001

Wikipedia page

Isao Okawa was the chairman of Sega from 1984 until his death in 2001 and a philanthropist of technology. His charitable organization, the Okawa Foundation, provided financial support for numerous technology companies including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and SEGA Enterprises. He personally provided SEGA with $40million for the development of the Sega Dreamcast. Mr. Okawa died at the Tokyo University Medical Hospital on March 16, 3:47 P.M. of congestive heart failure after a long battle with cancer. He was 74.

Table of contents

[edit] Biography

Isao Okawa was born in Osaka Japan, the second son of an Osaka clothing material wholesailer. After graduating from Waseda University in Tokyo in 1948 as an engineering major, he was bedridden for eight years by tuberculosis. Learning the growth potential of the computer industry, after his recovery he formed Computer Services technology company, which became CSK Holdings Corporation (CSK) in 1968 with Mr. Okawa as chairman. As a technology executive and investor, Mr. Okawa amassed a considerable fortune and was a major early backer and stockholder in more than 30 Japanese technology companies including the ASCII Corporation, Bell System 24, and Japan Card System. Mr. Okawa became chairman of Sega Enterprises in 1984 when CSK purchased a controlling share in SEGA Enterprises Ltd. Development teams in CSK would go on to produce the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis), Sega Saturn, and Sega Dreamcast consoles.

Described as a 'citizen of the world' by games journalist Steven Kent, Mr. Okawa was recognized by the Japanese government for his formation of and work with the Okawa Foundation, a charitable organization devoted to improvements in information technology and telecommunications research. Established on August 22, 1986 as a non-profit organization, the Okawa Foundation has provided financial support from Mr. Okawa's generous donations to numerous technology companies including the MIT Media Lab. Since 1992, the Okawa Prize, 10 million Yen and a gold medal, is given to researchers, engineers, and faculty who have made outstanding contributions to the information and telecommunications fields. In 1995, Mr. Okawa also organized the world's first Junior Summit initiative in Tokyo to help create a better future for children and established CAMP (the Children's Art Mueum and Park) in Kyoto, Japan, in 1998. He later received an honorary doctorate from Waseda University.

Though better known for his charitable donations, Mr. Okawa was dedicated to the success of Sega and personally supplied $40 million to the production of the Sega Dreamcast. He pushed for the Dreamcast to operate over a network, and his ideas continue to influence Sega's software to this day. After the failure of the console, Mr. Okawa made the decision for Sega to abandon the hardware business and to pursue independent software development for cel phones, handhelds, home consoles, and the Internet as well as their traditional arcade platforms. This move has since made Sega a very profitable company.

Before he died, Mr. Okawa forgave Sega's debts to him and returned all his shares of Sega and CSK stock as a gift to help the company survive the restructuring process from a hardware manufacturer to a software developer.

- Devin Monnens

[edit] Works

[edit] Video games

  • Samba De Amigo -executive producer- (Dreamcast, 2000)
  • D-2 -special thanks- (Dreamcast, 2000)
  • Space Channel 5 -very very very executive producer- (Dreamcast, 1999)
  • A special edition of Seaman on the Dreamcast was produced to commemorate his 74th birthday and was limited to 300 copies

There are several other games on MobyGames where he is listed as executive producer, but these games were published after his death!

  • Chairman, Sega, 1984-2001

[edit] Links

http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/soniczone/in_loving_memory.htm [this website contains a photograph]

[edit] Comments

Here are two memorial letters published in Steven Kent's book, The Ultimate History of Video Games:

To the Family of Mr. Isao Okawa: I am very saddened to learn of the passing of my friend and business associate, Mr. Isao Okawa. He was a man of great vision, who dedicated his energy and his many abilities to whatever task he undertook. He always maintained a very strong sense of responsibility. Mr. Okawa was always ready to listen and explore new ideas. He was an inspiration to the younger staff as well as management of Sega. He was a man with charisma, who loved music and good conversation. My wife and I always found Okawa-san to be gracious and kind. We will miss him and retain fond memories of our past times together. Sincerely, David & Masako Rosen
As one would expect, if you've met him or sat across a conference table from him, he did everything, even his passing away, in a very organized and dignified manner. Over a number of months prior to his passing, it was one of the better getting your affairs in order before you leave type of situations that I've ever seen in my life. I was privileged enough to go over two weeks ago to Japan to take part in the corporate funeral, which was attended by over 6,000 people, including Idei-san (chairman of Sony) and Kutaragi-san (president of Sony Computer Entertainment).... And I was the only gaijin [Caucasian] on the corporate receiving line that welcomed and said goodbye to the guests. It was an incredible affair that laid testimony to the effect that this man has had on the industry in Japan in general and in the computer services and digital entertainment world in particular. More than 6,000 were physically present, and it was Web cast to CSK offices in other cities.

- Peter Moore, then Chief Operating Officer, Sega of America

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