About

The Himekawa Group is a multinational group with industrial beginnings, dating all the way to more than 200 years ago, who now hold enormous assets in Japan and overseas. It includes dominant positions in many fields, such as finance, fashion & design, real estate, industrial manufacturing, and many others. It operates both domestically and abroad.

The current CEO is Fudo Himekawa, but it’s been announced that he’ll retire in two years and his son, Kaito Himekawa, will be the new CEO.

The Himekawa family today has far exceeded their ancestors’ ambitions and expectations. With Himekawa Capital, Entertainment, Fashion & Design, Finance, Foods, Industries, Jewelry, Real Estate, and Technologies, they have undeniably encompassed many of Japan’s industries. In the logos of the Himekawa Group’s brands, their signature cherry blossom is always proudly present.

History

The family has been part of the upper class for as long as they could remember, finding their beginnings when their ancestor found gold and other precious metals. Though this is the start of what made them into the giant they are today, it’s said that they’ve been wealthy even before this.

Because of their large amount of resources and money, they became one of the first private bankers in Japan, trusted by government officials and businessmen with their treasures, even collaborating with the government to build roads and develop the country further.

As time passes and the family grew bigger, they slowly went into other industries like real estate, technologies, capital, and others, steadily becoming a central figure in Japan’s economy. Nowadays, not as many people keep their treasures and wealth in the Himekawa Group’s bank—though the amount cannot be considered ‘few’ either—but the history of many large companies can be traced to the Himekawa Group. To this day, they still collaborate with the Japanese government, and some even say that the government owe money to the group, though this has never been confirmed.

Japan’s economy can be considered to be built around them, as any shift inside of the group or any of its subsidiaries will affect its respective industry as well.

Family

The Himekawa family themselves are elusive and not much is known about them other than their large family tree, their ancestral family home surrounded by cherry blossoms, and the fact that they are one of the most influential families in the nation. Their family business have warranted a saying among business circles, “Japan may have its emperor, but the Himekawas are the true emperors of Japan, and they have been for the past 200 years.”

When it comes to the family members themselves, each person is limited to only having four children at maximum, in order to prevent having too many members, as that can cause feuds.

Another rule is that the head of the family must be agreed on by the entire family to be the most suitable choice, so as to not lose everything they have built in the past. Each generation is taught to maintain their wealth and reputation. They highly value tradition and their legacy, and authoritative family members fiercely protect their reputation against corruption and conflict of interests.

Crest

The family proudly wears the cherry blossom on their family crest. There are some that have criticized them for being arrogant or presumptuous for using the flower that symbolizes their nation on their crest and brands, but those who are familiar with the family’s grand history may argue that it is quite fitting for a family that has helped developed the country into what it is today.

The use of the symbolic flower is tied to bushido or ‘the way of the warrior,’ which is a strict moral code of respect, honor, and discipline, something their ancestors have made sure to apply to a work environment. The Himekawa Group has a pristine reputation for their impeccable work ethic and treatment of those who work with them, this moral code being something that has been passed on from generation to generation.

Cherry blossoms are also tied to rebirth and renewal, something that their predecessors strived for. Though not made public, the Himekawa Group has helped numerous businesses and individuals to flourish, symbolizing a rebirth of sorts for those involved.

Bold as it may be to use a flower as deeply rooted in Japanese culture as the cherry blossom as their crest, those familiar with the family’s accomplishments and deeds may not disagree with the meaning it carries.