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Dr. Kazuo Inamori was born in Kagoshima, Japan, in 1932.
He graduated from Kagoshima University in 1955 with a Bachelor of Engineering degree and joined Shofu Industries, an insulator manufacturing company, in Kyoto. In April 1959, he established Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd. (now Kyocera Corporation) with an investment of 3 million Japanese yen from acquaintances. He served as president and chairman of the company until 1997, when he assumed the title of founder and chairman emeritus.
When Japan's telecommunications industry was deregulated in 1984, Inamori quickly took the initiative to establish DDI Corporation, and became its chairman. In October 2000, DDI merged with KDD and IDO to create KDDI Corporation. Inamori served as KDDI's chairman emeritus. He was named honorary adviser in June 2001. In February 2010, he became chairman of Japan Airlines.
In 1984, Inamori made a personal endowment to establish the non-profit Inamori Foundation, and became its president. At the same time, he created the Kyoto Prize, an international award presented by the Inamori Foundation each November to recognize individuals and groups worldwide who have made outstanding contributions to the betterment of the global community and humankind.
His volunteer service includes leading Seiwajyuku, a private management school operating in 61 locations, 8 of which are outside of Japan. As president of Seiwajyuku, Inamori teaches his management philosophy to more than 5,500 business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide. (as of January 31, 2010)
He also holds several posts outside of the company including honorary chairman of the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry, foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, trustee emeritus of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, foreign associate of the National Academy of Engineering in the United States, and special adviser to the Cabinet.
He entered Buddhist priesthood; ceremony at Enpuku-ji temple of the Rinzai sect, Myoshinji-lineage, Kyoto in 1997. |
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