Early Life
Kagemasa Kozuki, also known as Kaz Kozuki, was born on January 21, 1941, in Osaka, Japan. Information about his early life is limited, but it's known that he developed an interest in electronics and technology at a young age. Kozuki graduated from Kansai University in March 1966 with a Bachelor of Economics.
Rise to Success
Kagemasa Kozuki founded Konami Industry Co., Ltd. in 1969 in Toyonaka, Osaka. Initially, the company focused on manufacturing amusement machines for arcades. In 1973, the business was transformed into Konami Industry Co., Ltd., and began manufacturing amusement equipment. Under Kozuki's leadership, Konami quickly gained recognition for its innovative and high-quality games. Some of the company's most notable titles include the "Gradius" series, the "Castlevania" series, and the "Metal Gear" series. The name Konami is a portmanteau of the names of three founding members: Kagemasa Kōzuki, Yoshinobu Nakama, and Tatsuo Miyasako. By 1991, Konami's earnings grew from $10 million in 1987 to $300 million.
Key Business Strategies
Konami has implemented several key business strategies under Kozuki's leadership. These include expanding into various sectors, such as video game development and publishing, arcade game manufacturing, pachinko machine production, trading cards, and anime production. Konami has also expanded its global presence with offices worldwide. The company has also focused on mobile games, which has been a source of success.
Philanthropy
In 1982, Kozuki formed the Kozuki Educational Foundation to promote sports, educational, cultural, and social support-related activities, creating a better society.