Fumio Takashima (髙島郁夫 ''Takashima Fumio'' born May 20, 1956) is a Japanese entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Francfranc Corporation (previously named Bals Corporation). He likes contemporary art and often collaborates with magazines. Work aside, he is a triathlete and enjoys surfing.

Early years

Fumio was born in

Fukui Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Fukui Prefecture has a population of 778,943 (1 June 2017) and has a geographic area of 4,190 km2 (1,617 sq mi). Fukui Prefecture borders Ishikawa Prefecture to the north, Gif ...

, Japan in 1956. He went to college and graduated from

Kansai University , abbreviated as or , is a private non-sectarian and coeducational university with its main campus in Suita, Osaka, Japan and two sub-campuses in Sakai and Takatsuki, Osaka. Founded as Kansai Law School in 1886, It has been recognized as one of ...

.His mother was housewife and his father was working in the banking industry.His mother's parents were running a business and he remembers helping them when he was a kid. He spent his youth observing how businesses were run.

Career

Fumio started his career as a furniture sales manager in Maruichi selling company (マルイチセーリング). He particularly devoted his time to understanding people needs. In 1990, he established BALS Corporation in Tokyo (to be renamed Francfranc Corporation in 2017). In 1992,

Francfranc Francfranc Corporation is a Japanese furniture and home décor company founded in Tokyo in 1990 by Fumio Takashima. At the end of 2018, it had nearly 140 stores in Japan and Hong Kong, along with headquarters in both places. The company has abo ...

brand name was born and the first shop opened in Higashi-Shinagawa, Tokyo. Fumio's vision was to bring colour, sense and fun into people lives. In 2003, the first store outside Japan was opened (Hong Kong, Causeway bay). In 2017, Francfranc hit a milestone and became a 25 years old brand. In 2018, Fumio imaginated a new brand called Masterrecipe. The concept? To use traditional craft technique to create modern design for furniture and decorative objects. Up to this day, Fumio Takashima remains the CEO of Francfranc Corporation. Financial times in 2006 said " Fumio Takashima may soon be Japan’s equivalent of the UK’s Sir Terence Conran ".

Other works and achievements

Published books 2008: Thinking while managing Francfranc (original title: フランフランを経営しながら考えたこと―Francfrancからデザインビジネスの可能性を拡げるバルスの戦略). 2009: The unbreakable management (original title: ぶれない経営―ブランドを育てた8人のトップが語る - Collaborative work). 2010: No result without passion (original title: 遊ばない社員はいらない). Since 2010: Collaboration wit
Goethe
lifestyle magazine Sport 2013 : Ironman Triathlon Melbourne finisher. Ironman 70.3 Triathlon: Auckland, San Diego, Nagoya, Singapore, Taiwan. Ironman 51.5 Triathlon: participated in a lot of races

Collaborations

2006: Fumio Takashima an
Hervé Gambs
(French designer) collaborated on artificial flowers collection and custom furniture for Bals Tokyo and Francfranc stores. 2014: Fumio and

Tyler Brûlé Jayson Tyler Brûlé (born November 25, 1968) is a Canadian journalist, entrepreneur, and magazine publisher. He is the editorial director of ''Monocle''. Early years Jayson Tyler Brûlé is the only child of Canadian football player Paul Brul ...

collaboration between Francfranc and Monocle brand. 2015: Fumio an
Nika Zupanc
(Italian designer) collaborated for design furniture.

References

Japantime.co.jp
June 2009.
Bloomberg
Profile of Bals Corporation CEO - Fumio Takashima
Japantime.co.jp
Article about Tyler Brûlé and his products present in Francfranc Stores.
hervegambs.fr
" 2006 “Exclusive” collection for Francfranc Japan".
nikazupanc.com/francfranc
Collaboration for Francfranc.
Financial times (www.ft.com)
"Fumio Takashima may soon be Japan’s equivalent of the UK’s Sir Terence Conran" ;Specific
{{DEFAULTSORT:Takashima, Fumio 1956 births Japanese businesspeople Living people Kansai University alumni