Michael Kogan Japanese entrepreneur, founder of the Japanese company Taito Corporation Date of Birth: 05.02.1917 Country: Japan

Biography of Michael Kogan

Michael Kogan was a Japanese entrepreneur of Russian-Jewish descent and the founder of the Japanese video game developer company, Taito Corporation. He was born in Odessa in 1917, and his family fled to Harbin, the capital of Manchuria. In 1939, Kogan moved to Tokyo, where he lived during World War II and studied at the Economics Institute of Waseda University.

In 1944, he relocated to Tianjin and returned to Japan in 1950, settling in the Setagaya district of Tokyo. In 1953, Kogan established Taito Trading Company, which is now known as Taito Corporation. He played a significant role in the growth and development of the company, making it one of the leading video game developers in Japan.

Sadly, Michael Kogan passed away during a business trip to Los Angeles in 1984. He left behind a legacy of innovation and entrepreneurship in the gaming industry.

Kogan's son, Abba, currently resides in Monaco and is a collector of vintage sports cars. Kogan's daughter, Rita, lives in Southern California and is married to Richard Edlund, the founder of Boss Films Studios. In 2005, she owned 8.5% of Taito Corporation shares, continuing her father's involvement in the company.