Newsmaker
Monday, June 7, 1999
Name: Yoshiharu Satoh
Age: 70
Education: University of Tokyo
Occupation: Banker
Hobbies: Golf, karaoke, reading Japanese novels
When Yoshiharu Satoh became senior vice president of Central Pacific Bank in 1972, he learned a valuable lesson from his predecessor. Honored by Japan
Kazuo Ishii, the bank's president at the time, encouraged Satoh to work closely with the community in order to run a successful bank in Hawaii. Satoh also saw the importance of respecting employees, focusing on their strengths and abilities.
"You can't do too much work alone," he said. "As a banker, you should care for people. It's important to recognize good people. That's the key to good management."
Satoh recently was at the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu to receive the spring 1999 "Order of the Rising Sun, gold rays with neck ribbon" imperial decoration. The government of Japan recognized Satoh for his active involvement in the community and his efforts to boost Japanese investments in Hawaii.
Consul General Gotaro Ogawa said Satoh has made significant contributions toward strengthening the economic relationship between Japan and Hawaii. As chairman of the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, for instance, Satoh helped raise a large amount of money to build the $25 million facility.
A Japanese citizen, Satoh has been a banker for 32 years, the last 27 years at Central Pacific Bank. Before moving to Hawaii in 1972, he held top management positions for six years at Sumitomo Bank in California.
Satoh retired last month as bank director but still volunteers as senior counselor providing assistance for the chairman.
In his spare time, Satoh plays golf twice a week at Waialae and Pearl country clubs, listens to classical music by Mozart and Tchaikovsky, sings karaoke and reads Japanese historical novels. He has a son, an attorney in Hawaii, and a daughter and two grandsons in Japan.
Satoh remains active in the community. He is the director of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, president of Urasenke Foundation's Hawaii chapter, trustee of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation, member of the Nippon Club, and member and former director of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.
Ogawa said he meets Satoh everywhere, as often as once a week, at fund-raising banquets, charities and cultural activities.
Satoh is a gentle, warmhearted person, he said. "That's why I think he's been engaged in so many cultural and philanthropical activities. I really admire him."
Shirley Iida, Star-Bulletin
