Sawako Noma (c. 1944–)

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Sawako Noma (c. 1944–)

Japanese publisher. Born c. 1944 in Japan; granddau. of Seiji Noma (founder of Kodansha); attended Seisen Women's University; children: son Yoshinibu and 3 daughters, including Chikako Noma (senior editor for Kodansha America in NY).

After death of husband, with no editorial experience or background in business, took over as president and CEO of Kodansha (1987), Japan's largest publishing house; handles an empire of close to 2,000 employees, 54 magazines, a newspaper, and book companies in Japan, US and Europe that publish around 2,500 new titles a year; added popular women's magazines to an already successful group, Voce, Vivi and Mine. Business analysts credit her with Kodansha's success.