Takeshi Taketsuru

Takeshi Taketsuru (Japanese: 竹鶴威, 6 March 1924 – 17 December 2014) was a Japanese whisky distiller.^[1] He was the nephew of Masataka Taketsuru, from his sister Nobuyo, and his wife Rita Taketsuru, the founders of the Nikka Whisky company before being adopted by them after his father's death in 1943.^[2][3] After their deaths, he took over the company,^[4] and expanded its business substantially.^[2]

Takeshi Taketsuru
竹鶴威
Born	(1924-03-06)March 6, 1924
Died	December 17, 2014(2014-12-17) (aged 90)
Occupation	Whisky distiller
Employer	Nikka Whisky
Known for	Expanding Nikka Whisky
Predecessor	Masataka Taketsuru, Rita Taketsuru
Spouse	Utako Taketsuru
Children	Kotaro Taketsuru, Minobu Taketsuru
Mother	Nobuyo Taketsuru
Relatives	Masataka Taketsuru (uncle, adoptive father) Rita Taketsuru (aunt, adoptive mother)

He died on 17 December 2014, at the age of 90.^[1] Having married his wife, Utako, in 1951, he is survived by his two children, Kotaro and Minobu.