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How the Yamazaki Family Keeps a Billion-Dollar Sake Empire Private
Season 1
Episode 14
Published 1 month, 2 weeks ago
Description
Episode 14 of Family Business Stories with Fexingo goes inside the Yamazaki family's 300-year-old sake empire, based in Kyoto, Japan. Lucas and Luna unpack how eleven generations have kept the company private, the specific financial discipline that allowed them to survive Japan's lost decades, and the succession ritual that prioritizes adoption over blood if needed—a practice that has kept the business nimble for centuries. Key takeaways: why the company carries zero long-term debt, how they fund growth entirely from retained earnings, and the role of the 'ie' system in preserving family identity. A rare look at a dynasty that measures return on culture as much as return on equity.