Takeshi Taketsuru Explained

Takeshi Taketsuru (Japanese: 竹鶴威, 6 March 1924 – 17 December 2014) was a Japanese whisky distiller.^[1] He was the nephew of Masataka Taketsuru, from his sister Nobuyo, and his wife Rita Taketsuru, the founders of the Nikka Whisky company before being adopted by them after his father's death in 1943.^{[2] [3]} After their deaths, he took over the company,^[4] and expanded its business substantially.^[2]

He died on 17 December 2014, at the age of 90.^[1] Having married his wife, Utako, in 1951, he is survived by his two children, Kotaro and Minobu.

Notes and References

1. Web site: ニッカウヰスキー元社長・竹鶴威さん、死去 「マッサン」主人公モデルの養子. The Huffington Post. Japanese. 2 January 2015.
2. Web site: Takeshi Taketsuru, Whisky distiller, 1924-2014. Kana Inagaki and Ben McLannahan. Financial Times. 2 January 2015.
3. Web site: Obituary: Takeshi Taketsuru, whisky distiller. Phil Davison. The Scotsman. 5 January 2015.
4. Web site: Astonishing life of Scots woman who took whisky to Japan. Daily Record. 13 May 2012 . Heather Greenaway.