Berkshire Hathaway does not own Mitsui outright, but the American multinational holding company famously holds significant, multi-billion-dollar minority equity stakes in Mitsui alongside several other major Japanese general trading companies, known as sogo sosha. Warren Buffett and his investment team initiated these substantial positions to establish long-term partnerships, benefit from strong cash generation, and capture attractive dividend yields. While Berkshire's ownership percentage crosses notable regulatory disclosure thresholds, it represents a portfolio investment rather than a controlling stake or total ownership, allowing Mitsui to operate independently under its own executive management board and corporate governance structure.