Kazakhstan tycoon impressed Japanese with generosity

Kazakhstan tycoon Patokh (Fattakh) Shodiyev saved a unique kimono collection by a famous master Itiku Kubota from being auctioned and preserved it for Japan. According to Ogonek magazine, the billionaire treats Japanese philosophy and culture very reverently since his university years (graduated from Moscow State University of International Relations in 1976). He recently found out that a kimono museum in Kawaguchi was almost bankrupt and its priceless exhibits were to be sold at an auction. “I was shocked: each kimono is unique and is also a part of a big artistic canvas representing beautiful Japanese landscape. Sometimes such canvas “unites” up to six kimonos and splitting it means killing the whole idea of the great master,” the magazine cites Shodiyev. The tycoon decided to buy the whole collection of 104 kimonos. The deal that cost him 270 million yens (over $3 million) was closed in the end of 2011. According to Shodiyev, the masterpieces will remain property of Japan. At the same time the collection faces a new stage: exhibitions. In the nearest time kimonos will be exhibited for residents of Kazakhstan and Russia. Patokh Shodiyev is a co-founder and co-owner of ENRC, a holding producing energy, mining and processing minerals in Kazakhstan. His partners are Aleksander Mashkevich and Alidzhan Ibragimov. According to Forbes magazine, Shodiyev’s wealth is estimated at $3.7 billion.