Notable Moments

On May 23, 1966, seven years after the company's founding, Inamori assumed the role of president and chairman of Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd. At the time, he wrote in his notebook, "The job of a president is to establish the basic philosophy of the company and ensure it permeates throughout the organization," and he realized the need to share the "faith" he had practiced through management with all of his employees.

His basic idea was "the principle of an extended family based on trust and gratitude, valuing individuals, and dedicating ourselves to the development of the company like a family, thereby improving and achieving happiness in the lives of all employees. Principles of profit distribution, employee shareholding, labor-management cooperation, and commitment to subcontracting spirit." These principles, jotted in a memo, came from his experience three years into the company's founding when he was pressed by young employees for guaranteed raises and bonuses. He began to think that the most basic purpose of corporate management is to protect the lives of employees and their families in the future and to aim for everyone's happiness (From The Autobiography of a Brat).

Nine months after his inauguration as president, in February 1967, the company unanimously approved their business philosophy at the board of directors' meeting, which was "pursuing the physical and emotional well-being of all employees while contributing to the advancement of humanity and society." This encapsulates Inamori's unwavering belief that "the purpose of corporate management lies in pursuing the happiness of employees," a management philosophy that continues to be passed down today as one that all employees can resonate with.

Photo: Inamori when he became president in 1966