Kazuo Inamori
The information listed below is current as of the date the transcript was finalized.
Interview Details
Interview Sessions
Abstract of Interview
Kazuo Inamori was born in 1932 in Kagoshima, Japan, which lies on the southern tip of Kyushu Island—the southernmost of Japan's four largest islands. He was one of seven children. During elementary school, he was a very spirited child who loved science and also showed an interest in the machines that were in his father's printing shop. When he was in the 6th grade, he contracted tuberculosis. During his illness he read a book by a Buddhist monk, and this sparked his interest in religion. During World War II, his family's home was destroyed by an air raid and the family afterward had to live very modestly. Though he had a scholarship, in order to afford high school and supplement his family's income, Inamori made and sold paper bags. Inamori had high grades in high school in both physics and mathematics. His mathematics teacher, who had previously been the principal of his junior high, was much impressed. This teacher not only persuaded Inamori to continue on with his studies beyond high school, but he also visited Inamori's parents and convinced them to allow Inamori to go to a university. Inamori enrolled at Kagoshima University, where he majored in organic chemistry. Graduating from Kagoshima University, Inamori's first job was in research and development at Shofu Industries in Kyoto, Japan, where he quickly demonstrated enormous skill. He developed fosterite, the first person in Japan to do so, to serve as an insulator for high frequency radio waves. He then designed the mass production of high frequency insulator components made of fosterite. This led him to invent the electric tunnel kiln, used in sintering, which was then widely adopted in the industry. Despite these successes at Shofu, after a strong difference of opinion with his superior, he decided to leave the company. Learning this, several of his co-workers joined him. In 1959, together with seven other colleagues, Inamori established Kyoto Ceramic, which later became known as Kyocera. Inamori quickly secured for his company a contract from Matsushita Electronics Industries (now Panasonic), which called for Kyoto Ceramic to manufacture U-shaped Kelcimas (high-frequency insulator components for TV picture tubes). However, worried that his company was too dependent on Matsushita, Inamori sought orders from established Japanese manufacturers. Unfortunately, at that time his efforts did not meet with success, largely due to the Keiretsu (company affiliation) business network system. This led him to seek opportunities in the open markets of the United States. His first US customer was Fairchild Semiconductor, which placed orders for silicon transistor headers. Then IBM placed large-volume orders for ceramic substrates. Inamori continued to develop and refine Cerdip packages and multilayer packages for the US market. Kyocera's fine ceramics business continued to grow and contributed greatly to the development of the US semiconductor industry. To avoid dependence on the semiconductor market, Inamori diversified Kyocera. Initially he turned Kyocera to the manufacture of photovoltaic cells, cutting tools, and bioceramics—all employing fine ceramics technologies. Later, however, through various mergers and acquisitions, he moved Kyocera into other areas—especially the manufacture of electronic information equipment, e. g. laptops, peripheral equipment, and telecommunications equipment. When Japan's telecommunications industry was deregulated in 1984, Inamori decided to establish DDI Corporation (Daini Denden) to compete against NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation), which up to then had monopolized the Japanese telecommunications market. Not having any infrastructure in place, DDI was forced to rely on microwave communications to establish long distance telecommunication networks. Several years later, the Japanese government opened mobile communications to competition, and Inamori decided that DDI should enter into the cell phone business. This further contributed to DDI's growth and evolution. In 2000 DDI merged with KDD (Kokusai Denshin Denwa) and IDO (Nippn Idou Tsushin Corporation, which had been started by Toyota), to form KDDI, which today is the second largest comprehensive telecommunications company in Japan. In 1984 Inamori also established the Inamori Foundation based on his rationale that we have no higher calling than to serve the greater good of humankind and society. One of the main functions of the foundation is awarding the annual Kyoto Prize, which honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to science, civilization, and the spirituality of humankind. Inamori has also established the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio), which awards the Inamori Ethics Prize to those who practice model ethical leadership and have contributed significantly to the betterment of global society and mankind. In 2010, the Japanese government asked Inamori to take the helm of JAL (Japan Airlines) and reconstruct this bankrupt firm. Responding to this special request, Inamori became chairman of JAL. In this capacity, he has focused considerable effort on educating JAL employees, changing their attitudes toward work and customers, as well as on instilling the ailing airline with his innovative management philosophy. By his actions he has been able to strengthen customer service and has quickly turned around and improved JAL's business performance. Inamori attributes his overall success to his philosophy of love and caring. His motto is “Respect the Divine and Love People.” In the end, he gives this advice to global leaders who face many challenges: “Disregard personal egos and act for the greater good and happiness of humanity based on your conscience.”
Education
Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
---|---|---|---|
1955 | Kagoshima University | Bachelor of Engineering | Applied Chemistry |
Professional Experience
Kyoto Ceramic Co. Ltd.
Kyocera International, Inc.
Inamori Foundation
DDI Corporation
Kyocera Corporation
Kansai Cellular Telephone Company Ltd
DDI Pocket Telephone Inc.
Hotel Kyocera Corporation
KDDI Corporation
Seiwa Social Welfare Association
Inamori Social Welfare Foundation
Japan Airlines Corporation
Honors
Year(s) | Award |
---|---|
1972 | The 18th Okochi Memorial Grand Production Prize |
1974 | The 16th Commendation by the Director of State for Scienceand Technology |
1979 | Honorary Citizen of San Diego County, California, U. S. A. |
1984 | National Medals of Honor with Purple Ribbon |
1984 | Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Sweden |
1988 | The Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, Babson College, USA |
1988 | Honorary Doctorate, Science, University of Denver, USA |
1988 | Honorary Doctorate, Humane Letters, Alfred University, USA |
1990 | Honorary Citizenship of Shilong Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China |
1991 | Jason Ammons Free Enterprise Award, Coastal Carolina College, USA |
1995 | T. Keith Glennan Lecturer, Case Western Reserve University, USA |
1995 | Henry Townley Heald Award, Illinois Institute of Technology, USA |
1995 | Honorary Doctorate, Science, Cranfield University, UK |
1996 | Honorary Citizen of Dongguan City, China |
1996 | Doctor of Humane Letters, University of San Diego, USA |
1997 | The 1997 Distinguished Leadership Award in Japan Society of Boston, USA |
1998 | Lifetime of Innovation Award of the International Union of Materials Research Societies, USA |
1999 | Honorary Citizen of Asuncion, Paraguay |
1999 | Frontiers of Science-Rustum Roy Lecture, The American Ceramic Society, USA |
1999 | John Francis McMahon Lecturer, Alfred University, USA |
1999 | Person of the Year, The US Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Japan |
1999 | Honorary Doctorate, Kagoshima University, Japan |
1999 | Visiting Professor, Nankai University, China |
1999 | Distinguished Lifetime Member, The American Ceramic Society, USA |
2000 | National Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil |
2000 | Honorary Professor, Xinjiang University, China |
2000 | Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-Sen University, China |
2000 | Foreign Associate, National Academy of Engineering, USA |
2001 | Honorary Citizenship of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China |
2001 | Honorary Doctorate, Science, The Pennsylvania State University, USA |
2001 | Honorary Professor, Northeast Normal University, China |
2001 | Honorary Chairman, the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
2001 | Senior Advisor, China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (Inamori-Kyocera Western Development Scholarship Fund), China |
2001 | Economic Advisor for the Tianjin Municipal Government, China |
2002 | Concurrent Professorship, Nanjin University, China |
2002 | Trustee Emeritus, Carnegie Institution of Washington, U. S. A. (Trustee, 1990-2002) |
2004 | Honorary Consul, Republic of Paraguay |
2003 | The 2003 Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, USA |
2004 | Honorary President, Honorary Professor, Jingdezhen CeramicInstitute, China |
2004 | Envoy of Sino-Japanese Friendship, China-Japan Friendship Association, China |
2005 | Honorary Citizenship of Jingdezhen, China |
2006 | Honorary Doctorate, Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan |
2006 | Honorary Doctorate, Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, USA |
2007 | Herb Klein Civic Leadership Award, USA |
2009 | The Entrepreneur for the World Award, France |
2010 | Honorary Doctorate, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan |
2010 | Chairman of the board of directors, Kyoto International Conference Center |
2011 | International Citizens Award, Japan America Society of Southern California, USA |
2011 | Othmer Gold Medal, Chemical Heritage Foundation, USA |
2011 | Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, San Diego State University, USA |
Table of Contents
Born in Kagoshima, on Kyushu Island, Japan, one of seven children. Father's printing business. End of Great Depression and devastation of World War II. Competitiveness emerges during career at Nishida Elementary School. Begins to study seriously while in junior high school. Enthusiasm for chemistry experiment. High school brings love of baseball. Bout of tuberculosis awakens spiritual longing; begins study of Buddhist thought. Excels in mathematics and physics at Gyokuryu High School. Wins scholarship for both high school and college. Sells paper bags to pay for schooling and supplement the family income.
Attends Kagoshima University on scholarship. Majors in organic chemistry, wanting to develop drugs to cure disease, so majors in chemistry. Burgeoning petrochemical industry could also provide job for organic chemist, so he could help impoverished family. Three influential professors. Writes thesis on ceramics, with guidance from Professor Shimada.
Accepts job with Shofu Industries in Kyoto, Japan. City prosperous, not damaged by war. Assigned to develop high-frequency insulators using ceramics. Invents tunnel kiln for sintering metal oxides. Develops kiln for Pakistani friend. Thinks of going to Pakistan when trouble with Shofu management surfaces. Instead leaves Shofu.
Starts his own company, Kyoto Ceramics, with seven friends who also left Shofu. Persuades Panasonic to be first customer for U-shaped Kelcimas for cathode ray tubes. Competitors already members of keiretsu, so Inamori turns to American market. First customer is Fairchild Semiconductor. Kyoto Ceramics makes headers for silicon transistors. Integrated circuits replace transistors, so Kyoto Ceramics makes CerDIP. Makes ceramic substrates for International Business Machines. Business booms.
Solar battery research. Many merger and acquisitions. Begins laptop production, but stops. Company name changed to Kyocera to reflect different products. Twenty-five year anniversary trip for employees.
Japan deregulates telecommunications industry. Kyocera establishes DDI Corporation to compete, using microwave technology. Leads into early entry into mobile telephone business. Competes with IDOfor mobile telephone permits. Inspired by ancient warrior code, Inamori gets regional electric companies to join. Merges DDI with Toyota's IDO and KDD to form KDDI. Unsuccessful foray into satellite telephones with Motorola.
Motto: Respect the Divine and love people. " Inamori Foundation. The Kyoto Prize is an international award to honor those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of mankind. Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University gives Inamori Ethics Prize. Final advice to world leaders is to act for the good of all the world's people.
About the Interviewer
Thomas R. Tritton was the second president and CEO of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Prior to CHF, Tritton served as the twelfth president of Haverford College. His academic field is cancer chemotherapy and his work is represented in over 150 publications. Before Haverford, he was a professor of pharmacology for twelve years each at Yale University and the University of Vermont. At the University of Vermont he also served as deputy director of the Vermont Comprehensive Cancer Center and as vice provost of the university. Tritton currently serves on the boards of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Ohio Wesleyan University, and the Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress. He is also a member of the Corporation of Haverford College. In 2007, before assuming the CHF presidency, Tritton was at Harvard University, where he held the title of “President in Residence” at the Graduate School of Education. He worked with graduate students in higher education, wrote and taught about leadership and the college presidency, and also designed a new course on social justice.
Richard Ulrych was the director of institutional grants and strategic projects at the Chemical Heritage Foundation.