Kyo Katayama

The Katayama family is legendary as one of the richest, old money families in Japan. Through all the various wars and conquering of the country, the Katayamas have always come out on top. Poverty isn’t a word in their vocabulary, unless it’s sarcastic, but you’d honestly have to be fairly wealthy yourself to know about this family. They keep very particular company, and go to great lengths to keep their name out of the mouths of those less fortunate.

Kyo is an exception to this rule. Kyo is known as one of the most generous people on the entire planet, and for good reason. They made their newspaper debut as a twelve year old, having rescued a classmate from dangerous ocean waters on a field trip, and were lauded as a hero. Rather than letting this newfound fame and popularity get to their head, however, they immediately turned it around and tried to come up with a way that this notoriety could be useful to the entire world.

A party was thrown, not six months after their status as a hero was cemented. This party put Kyo back in the headlines once more. Assisted by the very girl they’d plucked from the sea, this party was the type you had to pay to get into, and all of their wealthy classmates were invited. The equivalent to $50 a plate was charged, which was met with some grumbling from parents, but every kid wanted to get into a Katayama dinner party. Kyo announced to anyone who would listen that this money was going to a charity they had discovered that helped teach lower-income children some basic survival skills–ie, building fires, first aid, and swimming. They thought that since their new best friend could have benefitted from it, so could everyone!

The party was a huge success, and was reported on by several local newspapers. The story got picked up by a major news network, and the heart warming story spread. Kyo used this momentum to keep throwing parties as they grew older, and now a year in Tokyo simply wouldn’t be the same without a Kyo Katayama Charity Gala.

A Gala is thrown every six months at various locations (usually Katayama properties, but several restaurants, hotels, and resorts have offered up their premises in exchange for nothing but contribution to the good causes–and exposure), with only the richest and most upper crust of society able to pay for entrance. Given that these parties were quickly made into a status symbol–anybody who’s somebody had to be there–the funds they accrue are nothing to sneeze at.

Through nothing but excellent money management, charm, and dedication, Kyo Katayama has been able to give enough funding to provide a foundation for the preservation of black bears was founded in Kyushu and drastically reduced the number of dead bears in Japan, for one thing. They were able to make significant strides in AIDS research, in providing meals for impoverished children, in establishing centers for homeless women to live and have access to menstrual products, and many more.

Kyo Katayama is one of the most notable humanitarians in the world, and they insist that their work is not done yet!