as an outsider”. By February 2018 he was in contact with Idemitsu management, and bridged the gap between management and the founding family. On July 10, 2018, Idemitsu and Showa Shell officially announced their agreement to merge. Idemitsu Chairman Takashi Tsukioka made a rare public statement praising Murakami, saying “It is a fact that Murakami, a distinguished investor, advised the founding family from a fair standpoint on the necessity of the merger in order to maximize the joint benefit of all stakeholders including the founding family, improving the relationship between Idemitsu and the family. I thank him for his selfless efforts to date.” Notes 1959 births Living people Corporate raiders Japanese government officials Japanese investors Japanese white-collar criminals People convicted of insider trading People from Osaka University of Tokyo alumni 21st-century Japanese businesspeople Japanese people of Taiwanese descent Japanese people of Indian descent