Takeshi Taketsuru

Takeshi Taketsuru (Japanese: 竹鶴威, 6 March 1924 – 17 December 2014) was a Japanese whisky distiller. He was the adoptive son of Rita Taketsuru and her husband Masataka Taketsuru, the founders of the Nikka Whisky company. After their deaths, he took over the company, and expanded its business substantially.

He died on 17 December 2014, at the age of 90.