DENVER – Three successful real estate and business leaders are the team behind the new RE/MAX master franchise in Japan, as the country becomes the newest addition to the RE/MAX global network. With more than 93,000 agents in over 95 countries around the world, RE/MAX is the most recognized brand in real estate.
RE/MAX Japan co-Region Owners John Fou and Yoshinori Ikezoe are joined by Managing Director Hisato Ono. Together, the three have extensive backgrounds in business, finance, technology and real estate. They believe the future of a strong workforce is to recruit and empower women. More than half of all current RE/MAX agents are women, and the company, founded more than 40 years ago, was built on an agent-focused philosophy, which offers support, marketing, training, and technology to foster success.
“Our agents are the heart of our company and we take pride in their success,” said Dave Liniger, RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder. “RE/MAX agents have the reputation of performing at the highest level, with great attention to customer service. We’re excited that RE/MAX Japan will now be able to offer that top tier service to homebuyers and sellers in Japan.”
John Fou has 25 years of experience in the financial sector in Japan and Asia. His knowledge spans from derivatives to private equity and he has built, purchased and managed various businesses- most recently serving as the CEO of Evolution Japan Co, Ltd. He holds an Economics degree from Princeton University.
Yoshinori Ikezoe has an extensive real estate background, as both a real estate professional covering asset management, development, operations and property management, and as a solution provider for real estate business. He also founded Mother's Auction, an internet based real estate auction platform.
Hisato Ono has first-hand experience with large-scale real estate development from acquisition to vacant possession, approval, and design, both in Japan and the U.S. He has a solid background in investments and finance, working with Amroc Investments and Cargill Financial Services. He holds a B.A. in Legal Studies from the University of California- Berkeley.
“It was not difficult for us to decide what company we wanted to partner with,” said Fou. “RE/MAX is known and respected around the world, and believes owners should make the decisions on how best to run their own business.”
In Japan, women currently make up a small percentage of the number of real estate agents. RE/MAX Japan aims to engage and mobilize this most valuable and significantly under- utilized resource, increasing the number of women in the real estate industry and in the overall workforce.
RE/MAX Japan is one of the sponsors of the upcoming U.S.-Japan Council’s Women in Business Summit on May 27th at the ANA InterContinental Tokyo. The Summit will bring together Japan’s many diverse women’s organizations that are working toward the goals of improving conditions for women and increasing their number in the private sector in Japan. The Summit will feature speakers, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities focused on the theme of “Womenomics: Engine for Economic Growth.”
“We have high expectations of growth in the real estate market in Japan,” said Fou. “To meet our goals, we need professional agents who want to work hard, earn good money and match their preferred lifestyle. Women are an untapped, valuable resource that the Japanese economy needs to grow and thrive.”
The RE/MAX Japan office is located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo in the Evolution Financial Center.
RE/MAX has a presence in more than 95 countries, a global reach greater than any competitor. With more than 6,300 independently owned and operated offices around the world and a sales force of over 93,000 sales associates, RE/MAX offers buyers and sellers the experience and knowledge of the most productive professionals in the real estate industry.
For more information about RE/MAX global listings, please visit: www.global.remax.com.
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About the RE/MAX Network:
RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail Liniger, with an innovative, entrepreneurial culture affording its agents and franchisees the flexibility to operate their businesses with great independence. Over 93,000 agents provide RE/MAX a global reach of more than 95 countries. Nobody sells more real estate than RE/MAX.
RE/MAX, LLC, one of the world’s leading franchisors of real estate brokerage services, is a subsidiary of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:RMAX).
With a passion for the communities in which its agents live and work, RE/MAX is proud to have raised more than $130 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals(R), Susan G. Komen(R) and other charities.
For more information about RE/MAX, to search home listings or find an agent in your community, please visit www.remax.com.
