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Photo not related to article [123rf]

A well-known Japanese retail investor who built a 5 billion yen ($32.1 million) fortune from an initial 500,000 yen investment has died at 51 after a battle with cancer.

According to Japanese media, the retail investor known online as "Tachan" died Thursday. His family announced his death through his X account on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to those who had supported him during his lifetime.

Born in 1975, Tachan was an anesthesiologist who graduated from Hiroshima University's School of Medicine. He began investing in shares in 1998 as a university student with 500,000 yen, and his focus on value investing paid off — his assets surpassed 5 billion yen in 2024.

At 38, his annual dividend income exceeded 30 million yen ($192,000), surpassing his earnings as a doctor, prompting him to quit medicine and become a full-time investor. He returned to practicing medicine within six months, however.

He was also active online as an influencer sharing stock investment information, posting investment experiences and stock analyses on X. Last year, he appeared on PIVOT, a Japanese business content channel, to introduce his investment approach.

In 2022, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with rectal cancer and began a prolonged fight against the disease. He underwent four surgeries, but by late 2024, at age 49, learned the cancer had spread to his lungs and liver.

His attending physician reportedly told him at the time that he might make it to 50, but could not say whether he would reach 51.

Tachan posted on X in July that he had celebrated his 51st birthday — the milestone his doctor had said he might not reach. He wrote that he was going through a difficult time due to cancer pain.

His condition subsequently deteriorated to the point where he was considering hospice care, and he ultimately died about two months later. In the death notice, his family wrote: "We are deeply grateful to everyone who was part of his life and to all his followers."

Since news of his death broke, tributes from followers have poured in online.


bbo@heraldcorp.com