At the ripe old age of 100, the founder of Japan’s leading taxi company, Hajime Kurotsuchi, has announced that it is time to retire. This was announced by the entrepreneur himself at a press conference, explaining that he will still remain linked to the company as a consultant. Born in the western prefecture of Oita, Kurotsuchi had to drop out of high school because he was called to arms in the Second World War, to serve in China with the Japanese imperial army.
The company that takes the name of Daiichi Kotsu Sangyo Co, was started in 1960 with just 5 taxis, and then expanded through mergers with other operators, to become the market leader with over 8,000 cars. In 2015 Kurotsuchi had to temporarily retire from his operational role due to an accident at work, but returned two years later with a management position. He still goes to the office every day, tells the Japanese press, and participates every day in the meetings of the Boards that take place online.
Among the tips for staying healthy, according to the sprightly centenary, there are those “not to eat too much and not to drink too much, as well as exercising for at least 10 minutes a day”. During the press conference Kurotsuchi said that the day he blew out 100 candles, last January, he realized “how short life was”, and hopes that everyone can reach this milestone.