Tsunao Okumura

Who was Tsunao Okumura?

Tsunao Okumura was the president of Nomura Securities between 1948 - 1959. He was seen as the king of Japanese stockbroking in the 1950s.

As the son of a wealthy confectioner, Okumura showed little ambition from a young age. At nineteen, he entered Kyoto University where he enjoyed the softer pleasures offered to a well-to-do college student. His father gave him 100 yen a month spending money, at a time when twenty yen was enough to enjoy a very comfortable life-style. Taking his classes lightly, he spent much time in Kyoto's dance halls along with other rich young men. Okumura left university without impressive grades and was rejected by the Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Yamaguchi banks. He succeeded in entering Nomura's research department by a personal introduction.