{"id":"4e7b56fe-e690-42af-96e2-bc190df273da","slug":"seiuemon-inaba-fanuc","name":"Seiuemon Inaba","bioBrief":"Founder and long-time President & CEO of FANUC Corporation. Joined Fujitsu (then Fuji Tsushinki) in 1946 and developed Japan's first numerical control (NC) system in 1956. Founded FANUC as an independent company in 1972 and served as President until 2000, then Honorary Chairman until his death. Received Joseph F. Engelberger Award (1987) and Japan's Order of the Sacred Treasure with Gold and Silver Stars (1995). Passed away November 2020 at age 95.","priorExits":null,"nationality":null,"verificationPosture":"verified","aliases":[],"sources":[{"url":"https://ifr.org/members-news/associations/fanuc-founder-dr-seiuemon-inaba-passed-away","title":"FANUC founder Dr. Seiuemon Inaba passed away","sourceName":"International Federation of Robotics"},{"url":"https://www.assemblymag.com/articles/95981-rip-seiuemon-inaba-founder-of-fanuc","title":"RIP: Seiuemon Inaba, Founder of FANUC","sourceName":"ASSEMBLY Magazine"}],"reviewStatus":"reviewed","createdAt":"2026-06-11T03:47:54.373Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-14T21:34:50.893Z","educations":[],"companyRoles":[{"id":"9a895470-a86a-4ddc-bbf0-96723b4bb391","personId":"4e7b56fe-e690-42af-96e2-bc190df273da","companyId":"d9d1cd59-84ec-436d-965a-d4953a7a6b45","role":"founder","roleTitle":"Founder, President & CEO (1972-2000); Honorary Chairman (2000-2020)","startDate":"1972-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","endDate":"2020-11-01T00:00:00.000Z","currentRole":false,"roleBasis":"verified_ir","createdAt":"2026-06-11T03:49:23.799Z","company":{"slug":"fanuc","name":"FANUC Corporation"}}],"boardRoles":[],"investorRoles":[],"foundings":[{"id":"68b197c2-1d6b-4f89-9032-f1b99d9878c6","personId":"4e7b56fe-e690-42af-96e2-bc190df273da","companyId":"d9d1cd59-84ec-436d-965a-d4953a7a6b45","foundingDate":"1972-01-01T00:00:00.000Z","cofounderStatus":"sole","stillAtCompany":false,"createdAt":"2026-06-11T03:49:24.059Z","company":{"slug":"fanuc","name":"FANUC Corporation"}}]}