Notable Moments

For this third installment of "Visiting Places Connected to Kazuo Inamori," we'll be sharing a story about a "New Year's visit." We'll introduce you to the Kurumazaki Shrine, which is associated with Inamori.

Kurumazaki Shrine is in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City. Kyocera's New Year's visit, held at midnight on New Year's Day, continues as an annual company event with the participation of the chairman, president, and willing employees. The tradition started with Inamori's visit to the nearest shrine from his residence in Sagahirosawa on New Year's Day 1960, the year after Kyocera was founded, which contained a certain commitment of Inamori. One of the founding members, Mr. Masaji Aoyama, recalled the following in his book:

"It was the first New Year's Day since the founding of Kyocera. We decided to visit the shrine, and Inamori said we should gather at Kurumazaki Shrine just before midnight on New Year's Day because he wanted to pay his respects first. Four of us, including Inamori's wife and my wife, gathered a little before midnight. I watched the second hand of the clock, and the moment it pointed to midnight, we two rang the bell together, clapped our hands, and prayed for the future development of Kyocera. The idea was to get our wishes heard first before any other requests reached the gods. Perhaps the spiritual efficacy of this ritual has indeed contributed to the development of Kyocera today. ... Inamori always wants to be first in everything and always leads. Even on this New Year's visit, he was the first to pay his respects, sincerely praying to the gods and saying, 'I'll do my best, but please help me, gods,' not just relying on the gods but asking for their blessings." (From Twenty Years with My Beloved Kyocera by Masaji Aoyama)

Photo 2: The torii gate in front of Kurumazaki Shrine station.
Photo 3: The main shrine.
Photo 4: There is also a performing arts shrine within the grounds, surrounded by vermilion tamagaki (sacred fences) donated by performing artists hoping for breakthroughs.