Notable Moments

April 14, 2022

In December, as 1991 was drawing to a close, I visited Kyoto for a photo assignment for the magazine Aera (Asahi Shimbun Publications). The subject of the shoot was Kazuo Inamori, the president of Kyocera. Known for founding the Kyoto Prize and Daini Denden, his name often appeared in newspapers and magazines, cultivating an image of him as a leader in both the economy and culture of the Kansai region. It was my first time meeting Mr. Inamori.

Mr. Inamori exuded the charisma of a man of the moment while offering us a bright and unreserved laugh. At the time, Mr. Inamori was approaching retirement age, and I was in my early 40s. To put it bluntly, he felt like a beloved relative, an "uncle," if you will, showing none of the arrogance often associated with "darlings of the era."

During the interview, Mr. Inamori answered the reporter's questions as if he were engaged in a dialogue with himself. After the interview, I asked if I could photograph him at work, a request that wasn't part of the initial plan. Despite the sudden request, he graciously allowed me to capture him in a meeting, where I got to see another side of him. As soon as the meeting began, Mr. Inamori started rigorously questioning the executives present while holding a document in one hand. While this may have been natural for a business owner, the severe expression I witnessed was one I couldn't have imagined from the gentle smile he showed the reporter and me just moments earlier.

At a Seiwajyuku study session held in a Kyoto restaurant, I saw yet another side of him. The Seiwajyuku session was clearly different from regular seminars, possessing an atmosphere that seemed more spiritual than utilitarian. The students sat cross-legged in the room and were leaning forward, listening intently with serious expressions. Their dedication made me hesitate to move around and take pictures. Through that photo shoot, I caught a glimpse of the many sides of Mr. Inamori-- something that was reflective of the multiple roles he had assumed at the time. Due to his sternness, he was sometimes described as a "Japanese sword" within Kyocera. This analogy might have been inspired by the sharpness of his critiques. However, my impression was that he was more of a "wooden sword."

A wooden sword doesn't cut people, but it's used to teach and train others. Instead of the icy sharpness of a Japanese sword, it possesses the warmth of wood--that's exactly how I remember Mr. Inamori.

Photo 1: Inamori heading to Tokyo immediately after a meeting (Cover photo for Aera magazine, May 26, 1992 issue, "Modern Portraits")

Photo 2: Inamori talking as if addressing himself during the interview

Photo 3: Inamori at work in Kyocera

Photo 4: Inamori at a Seiwajyuku study session (December 5, 1991)