Hideo Futahashi (†2024)

How do you write an obituary for a man who spoke more about numismatics than about himself? Who found joy in introducing European coin enthusiasts to the beauty of his country and opening doors for them? He and his charming wife were generous hosts, never tiring of forging connections between Japanese and European numismatists. His death is a great loss for all those who have come to love Japan and its numismatic world.

An Ambassador for Japanese Numismatics

I first met Mr. Hideo Futahashi at the Mint Directors Conference 2012 in Vienna, which he attended with his wife. He was highly interested in engaging in conversation – so much so that language barriers ceased to matter. It took me a long time to understand the role he played in Japanese numismatics because this enthusiastic coin lover defined his own role and did not fit into any conventional mold.

Mr. Futahashi published a Japanese magazine, introducing international numismatic releases to Japanese collectors. He collected, published, and played a significant role in various coin collector associations in his country. He made it his mission to connect European dealers and journalists, like myself, with local collectors, museum curators, and dealers.

An Ambassador for Japanese Culture

My last meeting with Mr. Futahashi and his wife took place in April. As always, he had invited a small group of people to dinner during the TICC in Tokyo, carefully selecting the guests with the intention of introducing people who should know each other. He deliberately chose a traditional Japanese setting for this. He was proud of his culture and was delighted to meet people who appreciated it.

He only hinted that he had been seriously ill. But now, he said, he was feeling better, and we made grand plans for the coin collections and numismatic museums he wanted to show me on my next visit to Japan.

A Great Loss

I am deeply saddened by the death of my Japanese friend, whom I did not have the chance to know well enough. I miss his gracious kindness, his natural generosity, and the open-mindedness with which he welcomed me, a foreigner, into his country.

In Japan, there is a strong belief that people can continue to influence the lives of those they were connected to, even after death. I am certain that the spirit of Hideo Futahashi will always accompany me when I travel through Japan.