KOFU (Yamanashi Pref.): Hiroshi Saito, founder of Japanese confectionery chain Chateraise Co., died on Saturday. He was 90.

After graduating high school in 1952, Saito, a native of Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, opened a confectionery shop called “Amataro” in the prefectural capital of Kofu two years later.

He established Chateraise in 1967 and in 2010 expanded the business into holding company Chateraise Holdings, which combines confectionery, winery and hotel businesses. Saito had been chairman of the holding company since 2018.

JIJI Press