Founder of Sports Company Passes Away

The founder of a major sports equipment company passed away on September 20 at the age of 93. He was also the chairman of a mission school and an elder at a Christian church.

A memorial service will be held on September 24 from noon to 5 p.m. at a Christian church, where attendees can pay their respects. The funeral will be conducted later with only family members present. The deceased's wife will serve as the chief mourner. In accordance with his wishes, the family has declined flowers, offerings, and general attendance at the memorial service. A farewell gathering is planned for November 21.

Born in 1933, he was a second-generation Korean resident in Japan and graduated from a university. He initially managed a coffee shop before entering the sports equipment business, establishing his first company in 1968. He founded the sports company in the early 1970s, which later became a corporation, expanding to sell surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding equipment and contributing to youth culture and action sports.

The name of the company was chosen due to its representation of nobility in the Bible, symbolizing the dignity of Christ. Since its inception, the company has emphasized youth development, the advancement of sports culture, and sustainability as its core business principles.

In addition to his business pursuits, he supported mission, education, and welfare activities as a Christian for many years. He became the chairman of a mission school in 1990 and served as an elder at a Christian church. In 1995, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in theology by an American seminary.

He also became the chairman of an organization supporting children with disabilities in 2002 and established a facility for prayer and training that same year. He participated in various mission activities across denominational lines and received an award for his contributions to evangelism in Japan in 2012.