Date of Birth: January 25, 1926

Ecucation
1949 Graduated from Faculty of Economics, Kyoto University

Career History
1949	Joined The Sumitomo Bank, Ltd.
1973	Elected to the Board of Directors
1975	Managing Director
1979	Senior Managing Director
1982	Executive Vice President
1986	Resigned from The Sumitomo Bank, Ltd. Appointed President, Asahi Breweries, Ltd.
1992	Chairman of the Board
1999	Director, Corporate Adviser

Current Public Offices Held
1993	President, Japan-Spanish Society
1995	President Japan-German Association
1995	Vice Chairman, Keidanren
1997	Vice Chairman, Keizai Koho Center, Japan Institute for Social and Economic Affairs
1998	Chairman, Committee on Nature Conservation, Keidanren (Japan Federation of Economic Organizations)
1998	Chairman, Economic Strategy Council
1999	Member of Competitive Comission
1999	Vice Chairman of the Board of Councillors, Keidanren

Proposing Successive Policies at the Economic Strategy Council
After serving as Executive Vice President of The Sumitomo Bank, Mr. Higuchi was appointed president of Asahi Breweries in 1986. At the time, the company's share of the beer market was practically at its lowest level, but while encouraging staff to "have a dream and keep going forward," he reformed the corporate culture. Supported by Asahi Breweries' launch of "Super Dry," which became a major hit, he created a whirlwind by raising market share from just under 10% at the time of his presidential appointment to 24% at the time he was replaced as president.

Mr. Higuchi is also known for his unique business methods. For example, he introduced the idea of collecting and disposing of old beer as well as the deployment of large numbers of female staff at marketing locations to collect negative feedback from customers. During his six years as president, Asahi Breweries' overall sales grew more than threefold.

Because of his ability as a "reconstruction contractor," he became chairman of the Economic Strategy Council, a consultative body inaugurated by Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in August 1998. The council proposed a series of policies originating from the private sector, such as promoting the early rehabilitation of the financial system through the injection of capital into financial institutions, and provided key support for Japan's economic recovery. In February, the council put together its final report, entitled "Strategies for Reviving the Japanese Economy."