Soichiro Fukutake’s lifestyle involves living in Auckland, New Zealand and flying motorized gliders, while also maintaining a long-term, generational perspective on investing in art and communities through the Benesse Art Site Naoshima project in the Seto Inland Sea. He believes economic prosperity alone leads to unhappiness and is dedicated to creating happier communities through cultural development, a shift in perspective he developed from his experiences on the islands.
Living in New Zealand
Fukutake resides in Auckland, New Zealand, a move partly motivated by a desire to avoid Japanese inheritance taxes that would make it difficult to support his philanthropic foundation.
He is an avid motorized glider pilot, a hobby he took up at age 40.
Lifestyle and Philosophy
Value-Driven Vision: Fukutake believes that the economy should serve to create good communities, rather than being an end in itself, leading to potential unhappiness.
Community & Art: His work focuses on revitalizing communities through art, integrating it with local culture to foster a sense of belonging.
Long-Term Investment: He thinks in terms of decades and generations when it comes to returns on investment, emphasizing sustainability and societal benefit.
Personal Journey: A visit to Naoshima and interactions with islanders profoundly changed his perspective on modern life, leading him to see the value in community, nature, and traditional ways of life.
The Art & Community Connection
Benesse Art Site Naoshima: Fukutake and his family have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to transform Naoshima and other Seto Inland Sea islands into a global art destination.
Architectural Integration: The project includes museums and installations designed by renowned architects like Tadao Ando, which are integrated into the natural landscape.
Public Interest Capitalism: Fukutake promotes a model of "public interest capitalism," where companies engage with communities as corporate citizens and fulfill their responsibilities beyond profit generation.
