CHICHIWEB

Zizhi Tongjian

A legendary instructor──participants of his training classes call him so. The depth of content he teaches and the beauty of his movements are still deeply engraved in the minds of many people. This instructor is Mr. Kanji Nakata.

　Mr. Nakata was born in the year Showa 35 (1960) in Osaka Prefecture. After graduating the School of Economics of Osaka University, he entered Daiei, where he was in charge of training in the Education Department. This had decided the direction of his life. He was attracted by the significance and appeal of human resources education, and changed his job to work for a large-scale training company, aiming at becoming a training instructor. It was when he was 27.
　He stepped up tremendous efforts. Days of smooth sailing waited ahead. In his 4th year in the company, he won the Best Employee Award. In his 6th year, he became a manager supervising several instructors. He married Ms. Right and had kids.
　Things went wrong in the year Heisei 8 (1996). He developed acute myeloid leukemia. He struggled with the disease for 4 months. Anticancer drug treatment was effective, and he was discharged in February next year. He relished the happiness of being with his family.
　However, the peaceful days didn’t last long. On January 1 of the year Heisei 10 (1998), Mr. Nakata’s elder brother forced him to go to hospital, assuming something was wrong with him. Then a new disease was found. He was suffering from a brain tumor. He was immediately hospitalized and received a craniotomy procedure. Fortunately, the operation was successful. However, the pleasure didn’t last long. The leukemia recurred. This time, the treatment was effective again, and he was discharged in July of that year.
　Nevertheless, destiny continued to give him even tougher ordeals.
　After 1 month from being discharged, he happened to wake up early in the morning to find that he could not see out of his right eye. He received radiation therapy but it was not effective. Eventually he lost his vision in his left eye as well. Mr. Nakata became completely blind.
　However, many people adored his character and asked for receiving his training, even in such a state. With the support from people whom Mr. Nakata called “people like God”, he continued working as an instructor.
　After finishing his first training class since becoming completely blind, the managing director of the company that received his training said to him, “I have received and also held various training classes so far, but I have never encountered any training like yours. Your training is the best I have experienced.” This comment gave confidence to Mr. Nakata, and became the source of his activities afterwards.
Amid such days, his leukemia recurred once again. It was in January of the year Heisei 16 (2004).
“I can’t describe the feeling upon then with words. The shock was so tremendous that I felt like giving up my life.”
Yet, being encouraged by amazing supporters, Mr. Nakata started to powerfully walk his way again. It was then that our magazine featured him.

　What matters for flowers is fragrance. What matters for people is personality. He was a kind of person who reminded me with these words. His struggle with the diseases that inflicted him refined his character as if it were shining.
　Mr. Nakata suddenly passed away in August this year. While bathing, he collapsed face down in the bath tub, due to a stroke caused by the aftereffect of the brain tumor. Everything happened in just about 10 minutes. We suffer a real loss. Our sadness is endless.

“Tenshin”, or intrinsic qualities, is the world of Mr. Shinzo Mori in “Shushin-kyoju-roku* ”. I interpret its meaning as the truth that Heaven gave to the person alone.
　Mr. Nakata is exactly the person who lived his life by making his intrinsic qualities fully bloom.
He used to say with belief, “The spread of your magazine, ‘Chichi’, is sure to make Japanese people happy.” I sincerely pray for this soul mate. May he rest in peace.

*Shushin-kyoju-roku” is a book containing lectures on life delivered by an unparalleled educator Mr. Shinzo Mori.



⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note

Person with No Aspiration Is Like a Ship without a Rudder, a Horse without Reins.

Takanori Nakajo, Honorary Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd


■Japan Guilt Theory That Is Still Prevalent

　The Japan Youth Research Institute, a foundation of which I am a member of the board of directors (Mr. Tamotsu Sengoku is the Head Director), is often asked by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to conduct a survey on the attitudes of young people. Every time I see the results of a comparison survey among Japan, the U.S., China, and South Korea, I am surprised to find that the youth in our country have such small dreams for the future. Their pride and love for the country is also extremely limited.
　Each time I face the reality of the youth in our country, the bearers of tomorrow, my heart aches and is troubled.
　More than half a century has passed since Japan lost WW�U. However, the occupation policy which continued for 6 years and 8 months after the war, especially “the War Guilt Information Program” (the policy to imprint the guilt of war onto the population) upon the initial stage, thoroughly penetrated the Japan Guilt Theory through the population, which has been prevalent for long periods.
　Caucasians were colonizing other countries on a global mass scale for 5 centuries. Amid such movements, our ancestors succeeded in establishing a modern state from the end of the Edo Period*1 to the Meiji Period*2. It was a significant milestone of our people in the modern history to have become one of the top 5 countries in the world despite being a colored race. There is no doubt that this great accomplishment is the result of high aspirations and big dreams of our ancestors.
　However, our country fought with great power and was defeated in the Showa Period. It was 62 years ago. Japanese people were overcome with the tremendous shock of the defeat. Then a tactful occupation policy followed, making Japanese blind to the essence of winning or losing the war.
　As Clausewitz described, war is “a continuation of politics by other means”, and is a conflict of national interests of both sides. Winning or losing the war has nothing to do with justice. Once one side wins, “Might is right.” Everything is controlled based on this theory, and all the history is written by the hand of the winner. Japanese people couldn’t even understand this reality. Even now, after half a century from then, Japanese are not aware of this fact, and many are still inflicted by masochistic view on history.
　With such a “woeful state” of adults, it is extremely difficult for youngsters to love their county and have dreams for the future. How can they live with high aspirations?
*1The Edo Period: 1603-1868
*2The Meiji Period: 1868-1912

■What We Have Lost in Exchange for Affluence

　I find that another big reason explaining the survey results is the affluence of this country.
　Although Japan is a country with few natural resources, it has established world-leading wealth now. All the 6.5 billion human beings hate poverty and are aiming at affluence. In view of this reality, affluence itself is nothing of concern. Whether it is a result of working hard or God-given, you just need to simply thank God.
　However, Japanese people intoxicated with affluence need to modestly listen to what global intellectuals have to say:
“Although affluence is the goal for all the human beings, strangely, once you get there, inevitably the energy to aspire will weaken, and the ability to persevere will wilt.” Without doubt, “the energy to aspire will weaken” means to become unable to visualize dreams. “The ability to persevere will wilt” refers to the loss of patience. Reflect on the reality of our country. The above mentioned survey results. Suicides exceeding 30,000 every year according to government press releases. Phenomena of killing those you find disgusting without a bit of patience and hesitation. These are exactly as pointed out by the global intellectuals.
　Looking back on the status of Japan before the war, we were incomparably poor. There was no need to tell the then youngsters to envision big dreams, as they used to head for large cities such as Tokyo or Osaka, with abundant spirit of “Come to me, more difficulties. Although my ability is limited, I will try and see what I can do.”
　Some of the mothers seeing off such youngsters were illiterate, but used to talk to their sons, “Please make sure to avoid doing anything that could be an object of contempt.” The sons had strong aspirations to be successful and cure the chapping that their mothers had been suffering from. Therefore, they could endure whatever hardships. As many as 600,000 Japanese in Manchuria (Northeastern China) upon the defeat in WW�U were detained in Siberia. Among them, 60,000 people died from hunger or were frozen to death.　
　When the cenotaph of the victims was established in Khabarovsk, Mr. Ryuzo Sejima, the former Chairman of ITOCHU Corporation, who used to be detained for as long as 11 years, his wife, and I visited the place. Mr. Sejima stood in front of the former concentration camp and told me that it was difficult to survive without having dreams and firm resolve: “Whatever happens, no matter how tough it might be, I will set foot in my motherland.” “I will never die until I see my beloved wife.” His remarks were infinitely painful, very heavy, and very noble.（Mr. Ryuzo Sejima passed away in the early morning of September 4. May he rest in peace.）

■What Saves Japan from the Current Status
　When I was leading Asahi Breweries, Ltd. at the time its performance was at rock bottom, I used to be enchanted by the pictures of Vlaminck. Many of his pictures are dark, mostly painting muddy roads or stormy scenes. However, the pictures never fail to have a strong light spotting from the upper right. When you are at rock bottom, you can’t help but searching for even a modest ray of light. A ray of light can give you the power to live, when you are in darkness.
The famous Shoin Yoshida*3 preaches: “Once you have aspiration, your vital energy will become even more vigorous.”
　I was taught the words of Wang Yangming*4 at military school: “Person with no aspiration is like a ship without a rudder, a horse without reins.”
　Dogen*5, the founder of the Soto school of Zen, also teaches us: “You are sure to achieve what you think desperately. If you are desperate, you are sure to come up with the means to achieve your goal.”
　I firmly believe that there is nothing but education and discipline that can save Japan from the current status.
Let me tell you this, the readers of “Chichi”. Even without citing the above examples of ancient times, Mr. Shinmin Sakamura, with whom you are familiar, always preached in his life of 96 years: “Pray, and any flower of yours will bloom.” “Where there is aspiration, there is a way.” The light you shed on a corner around you is sure to become countless waves illuminating this country, giving birth to youngsters with many dreams and high aspirations one after another.

*3Shoin Yoshida (1830−1859) was a Japanese scholar and teacher. He is cited as the spiritual leader/opinion leader of the Meiji Restoration.
*4Wang Yangming (14721529) was one of the most influential philosophers in the Confucian tradition. He is best known for his theory of the unity of knowledge and action.
*5Dogen was a Japanese Zen Buddhist teacher and the founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan. He was a leading religious figure of his time, as well as being an important philosopher.


⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】 Enjoy Your Fate, and Cultivate Your Own Way

Masatoshi Koshiba （Physicist） & Keiko Toyama (Pianist)



Mr. Masatoshi Koshiba, a Nobel laureate in Physics, and Ms. Keiko Toyama, a pianist, are friends and have many opportunities to enjoy the same activities, despite the difference in their fields: science and art. Both of them have reached the pinnacle of their careers in their own ways, and have been active on the world stage. The two have experienced various difficulties since their childhood, but they have always cultivated their own ways positively and cheerfully. Looking back on their lives so far, they share with us how they have developed their intrinsic qualities.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)



【Conversation】 How to Develop the Talents of Children
- The Way of Bringing up a One and Only Child

Nobuyuki Suzuki (President of BTR) & Setsu Goto (President of Office GOTO）



A Japanese player wrote another important page in the history of Major Leagues this year. The player’s name is Ichiro, who has achieved 200 hits in 7 consecutive years. Not only the Japanese but also the entire world lavishly praises his success. On the other hand, Ms. Midori Goto and her younger brother, Mr. Ryu Goto were both called geniuses during their childhood, and have been enchanting the audience all around the world with their violin sounds even now. All three represent Japan and are active worldwide. Mr. Nobuyuki Suzuki and Ms. Setsu Goto, who have brought them up, talk about their experiences on how to bring out and develop the intrinsic hidden qualities in the children.
⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note

Manage an Organization Based on Virtue
Kazuo Inamori, Chairman Emeritus of Kyocera Corporation

■Royal Road That Sun Wen Preached
In order to manage an organization, there is a way to manage by “force”, and a way to manage by “virtue”. In other words, there are 2 ways to govern a group; “royal road” based on virtue, and with an “iron fist” based on force.
　Consideration on this “royal road” and “iron fist” methods reminds me of a part of a speech delivered by Sun Wen, the father of the Chinese Revolution, held in Kobe in 1924.
　Sun Wen considered establishing a new China through the revolution. Seeking support from his friends, he visited Japan, which was leaning toward the imperialistic direction on a day to day basis, and made the audience confront the following issue.
“The material civilization of the West is a civilization of science. It has become a civilization of force, and pressing Asia. This is a civilization of an “iron fist”, as it has been referred to in China since ancient times. There is a more excellent culture of the “royal road” in the East. The essence of a culture of the royal road is moral, benevolence, and righteousness.”
“You, Japanese people, have adopted a culture of an iron fist from Europe and the U.S. At the same time, you have the essence of a culture of the royal road in Asia. In view of the future of the world culture, whether Japan will be a watchdog of the iron fist methodology of the West, or become a shield and castle of the royal road of the East, depends on what Japanese people choose carefully, after through consideration.”
　Unfortunately, Japan didn’t listen to Sun Wen’s advice, pursued the “iron fist” methodology with great rapidity, and stuck to its policy to beef up its wealth and military power. At the end of the day, Japan lost the war in 1945.
　The “royal road” that Sun Wen preached is a national policy based on virtue. In China, “virtue” has been described with 3 words from ancient days: “benevolence”, “righteousness”, and “courtesy”. “Benevolence” is to care for others, “righteousness” is to be in reason, and “courtesy” is to know good manners. Also, a person with all the 3 aspects of “benevolence”, “righteousness”, and “courtesy”, was called “virtuous”.
In a nutshell, “to manage by virtue” means to govern a group with lofty humanity.


■Corporate Management Depends on the Caliber of the Top Management

　In corporate management alike, I believe managing by “virtue” is the only way to establish a company that can prosper for long periods.
　In general, many companies in Europe and the U.S. are proceeding with corporate management with a forceful approach. For example, they wield their authority over personnel issues or appointment power based on the theory of capital. Or they try to control employees using financial incentives.
　However, there is no way for a management style, which controls people with power or stimulates human desires by money, to last long. Even if there is a temporary success, such management will someday lose people’s minds, and is sure to be ruined. Corporate management must be something to aim at eternal prosperity, and the only way to achieve this goal is to proceed with management based on “virtue”.
　In fact, a company grows and develops, as the personality of the management improves. I describe this as “Corporate management depends on the caliber of the top management.” As the saying goes, “A crab digs a hole that is like his own shell.” Even the management wants to make a great company, the company can be only as big as the size of the humanity of the management.
　For example, it is often seen that management that succeeded in a small company starts to lose control as the company grows bigger, and ends up in bankruptcy. It is because the management couldn’t make their caliber bigger, as the organization grew bigger.
　If management wants to develop the company, it is required first of all for management to make continuous efforts to improve their caliber, in other words, their humanity, philosophy, way of thinking, and personality.
　However, fewer and fewer in management understands this idea in Japan these days. There has been a succession of management who has lost modesty just by making a little bit of success in their business, became arrogant, pursued self-interest, and ended up losing the success they once gained.
　Now the time has come to learn from the wisdom of sages and renew our understanding on the importance of “virtue”. Doing so will not only lead to development of a group, but will also make a substantial contribution to revive the degenerating Japanese society.

【Conversation】 Things Learned from the Book of ‘Golden Rules of Life’, “Shushin-kyoju-roku”

Hidefumi Matsui (Advisor of AFLAC Japan) & Yoshitaka Kitao (CEO of SBI Holdings, Inc.)

There is a book selling well continuously since its first edition in the year Heisei 1 (1989) without much attention. The book is “Shushin-kyoju-roku*”, written by an educator named Mr. Shinzo Mori. The book has attracted not only those in the field of education, but also management and leaders in various fields. Mr. Hidefumi Matsui and Mr. Yoshitaka Kitao both cite the book as “the book that has always been with me” and say, “The book taught me many things about life.” They share with us many things they have learned from the book of golden rules of life, “Shushin-kyoju-roku.”
*”Shushin-kyoju-roku” is a book containing lectures on life delivered by an unparalleled educator Mr. Shinzo Mori. ⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)


【Conversation】Principles of Making a Good Company

Masatsugu Nakai (President of Chibo) & Youji Aoya (President of Bandou Taro)

Mr. Masatsugu Nakai is the president of Chibo, the chain of Okonomiyaki* restaurants, a specialty dish of Osaka, that has its stores both in Japan and abroad. On the other hand, Mr. Youji Aoya runs many Japanese food restaurants in the Kanto region, centered around Bando Taro, the restaurant of noodle stew. Both of them lost one of their parents when they were young, and started their business from scratch. They have developed their companies and continue to do so, by overcoming many hurdles. What are the principles of making a good company that the two have learned by devoting themselves? Also, what are the principles of living a good life?
*Okonomiyaki is a Japanese-style pancake containing vegetables and other foodstuff.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)



【Conversation】 Learn from the Natural Law Revive Forests, and Human Beings Will Become Alive

Akira Miyawaki (Professor Emeritus of Yokohama National University/Director of the Research Institute of Japanese Center for International Studies in Ecology) & Aya Kuwamura (Proprietress of Japanese Restaurant Wakuden)

For more than a half century, Mr. Akira Miyawaki, a plant ecologist, has been studying and reforesting areas with real forests in which lives can benefit from. His tree-planting activities are said to have taken place at 1,500 sites at home and abroad, or 30 million trees. Through his practices, he has discovered universal principles common to people and plants. Ms. Aya Kuwamura, proprietress of a Japanese restaurant inn, Wakuden, relates to his ideas and leads the reforestation activities. She has also been reflected on the should-be figure of people and companies through the reconstruction of a Japanese inn that went almost bankrupt. What are the golden rules of life that the two have grasped?
⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】 Human Studies Learned from Chinese Classics

Eiichi Tanizawa (Professor Emeritus of Kansai University) & Shoichi Watanabe (Professor Emeritus of Sophia University)



In order to survive a chaotic state of society without deviating from the right path, solid guidelines of life are needed. Chinese classics, which have deeply penetrated into Japanese’ minds, encourage and lead us when we can not make a decision or when we are in disappointment. Mr. Shoichi Watanabe and Mr. Eiichi Tanizawa, who are well-versed in ancient and modern classics, have picked up words resonated with their hearts from Chinese classics. Let’s learn the golden rules stated there.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Recently we have released “Daily Word from Sontoku Ninomiya*1” and “Daily Word from Shushin-kyoju-roku*2”, so that we have released 6 books of this Daily Word series in total.
After finishing the edition of sayings of the 6 old sages, there is a feeling of amusement that is swelling silently in my heart. This is a feeling that all the words of the 6 masters of life boil down to one thing:
　　What matters for flowers is fragrance.
　　What matters for people is personality.
　No matter how gorgeous and glossy artificial flowers may look, they don’t have the charm to really attract people. Likewise, no mater how capable a person may be, the person is not attractive as a person, if the person is arrogant and unbearable.
*1 Sontoku Ninomiya (1787-1856) was a prominent 19th century Japanese agricultural leader and philosopher. He was born to a poor peasant family but became a great landowner through hard work. Even to this day, he tends to be regarded as a symbol of hard work and perseverance.

*2 “Shushin-kyoju-roku” is a book containing lectures on life delivered by an unparalleled educator Mr. Shinzo Mori

　First of all, you have to create yourself. Refine a person, or yourself respectably, and become a person with the fragrance of virtue.――What the 6 sages talked about throughout their lives are condensed into this one point. This is exactly the most important principle of life, the principle that you can be sure your life is absolutely fine if you comply with this, or the golden rule of life.
　Then, how is it possible to create yourself? What the 6 sages said can be largely summarized by the following 3 things:

　The first thing is to be determined in your life. Unless you are determined, you will never start your true life. The old sages preach this point repetitively.
A fisherman in Okinawa once said,
“When I make a determination to go to a pelagic fishing ground, winds blow, the sail bustles, and waves start to ripple. However, if I am not determined, winds will not come to my ship.”
The same thing can be said about life.
　The second thing is not to be arrogant, and be humble, respectful, and modest. A person who is humble when out of luck, becomes arrogant when things start to go well. This is the common down side of human beings. However, when a person becomes arrogant, Heaven pulls the carpet under the person. There are countless examples of this case.
　The third thing is to be sincere. Sincerity is the best virtue of human beings that old sages cherished the most.
　If I were to add one more thing, it would be “endurance”. By continuing for long periods, the golden rule of life will become rock-solid.

　Lastly, I would like to introduce Sontoku Ninomiya’s poem on virtue.

　　Both my parents and their parents are inside me. Love myself, respect myself.

　Your life is not your own possession. Your life is the life continued for generations including your parents and their parents, in an unbroken line. Your life is there because the flame of life has continued without interruption even once. In your body, the flame of continuous lives of millions or tens of millions of your ancestors is burning.
You have to profoundly consider that you are the crystallization of such precious lives, and have a way of living by loving yourself and respecting yourself.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

【Conversation】First Class-ism Develops People

Tomoyuki Suzuki （Former Special Advisor of The Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers）
＆ Shigeo Fukuchi （Advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd.）



There are invariable principles to becoming a winner.
Mr. Tomoyuki Suzuki, who was called as a legendary man in the field of American football, demonstrated that. The Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers used to be always at the bottom of the West District First League rankings of amateur American football. However, the weak team became the champion after 2 years, and furthermore, had a great accomplishment of the second straight championship. Mr. Suzuki was the man who led the drastic reform of the team. How did he cultivate the destiny of the team? Also, what is the essence of success common to companies and sports? He explores the invariable principles, together with Mr. Shigeo Fukuchi, advisor of Asahi Breweries, Ltd., which showed remarkable growth with the hit of the Asahi Super Dry, after a long sales slump.
⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)


【Three-way Conversation】Transform This World into Heaven by Everyone

Shifu Yoshimura （Philosopher）＆ Tentsukuman（Film Director/Street Poet）　
＆ Fumiaki Nakamura（President of Kurofune Company）



Let’s start from changing the world within a 3m in radius. You can change the world from there…
An extra edition of a newspaper bearing such a message has been distributed by volunteers in Japan, as many as 30 million copies.
Mr. Tentsukuman is the person who developed this philosophy to change the world by starting from the small world around you. Mr. Fumiaki Nakamura has been supporting him to gain further support for his activity. The two men are trying to make people aware of what he is trying to do in Japan, which is getting further isolated and depressed. They exchange their views on what each one of us should do to cultivate the destiny of Japan, together with a philosopher, Mr. Shifu Yoshimura, who empathize with their activities.
⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)


【Conversation】How Feudal Warlords Cultivated Their Destiny

Fuyuji Domon （Writer）＆ Ryutaro Abe （Writer）




The Sengoku Period (100 years war) was an age of rival warlords. The fierceness of the battles among the warlords for the survival of their states is far beyond the imagination of us, who now live in a peaceful period.
How did they cultivate their destiny between life and death? The writers, Mr. Fuyuji Domon and Mr. Ryutaro Abe exchange their views on this theme.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

There is a book entitled “Human Studies in Prison”, which puts together the conversations between Mr. Tadayuki Furumi, who was the deputy chief of General Affairs Board of Manchuria (, which was said to be the de facto Prime Minister) until Japan’s defeat in the World War �U, and Mr. Hiroshi Jono, who fought with the People’s Liberation Army even after Japan’s defeat.
　Mr. Furumi was detained in Siberia after Japan’s defeat. He was further transported to China, sentenced to 18 years in prison in a military trial, and was taken into custody to the Fushun Prison. It was the year Showa 38 (1963) that he retuned to Japan. He spent the prime time of life from 45 years of age to 63 years of age in prison. He told that he was surprised to find out that his son, who was in the 6th grade of elementary school when he last saw him, was already married and had kids.
　Mr. Jono fought with Mao Zedong by organizing Chinese people as a field army in Shanxi Province, even after Japan’s surrender. However, he became a captive in the year of Showa 24 (1949), and spent 7 years in the Taiyuan Prison. Then he was transferred to the Fushun Prison, where he met Mr. Furumi.
　The two, who spent their life in prison together, openly talk about “the epitome of human society” in this book, which is the very cornucopia of human studies.

　Let me share one of the stories with you.
　Many people suffered from nervous breakdown in prison. What these people had in common was that they suck up to people with authority. They paid their entire attention to gain the favor of the administrator of the prison, tried to play along with him, and ended up suffering from nervous breakdown after being swayed by him.
　Also, the same thing can be said about those who miss their family and spend time solely on looking at the pictures of their wife, children, or mother. Their mind is dominated by the desire alone, and stops to react to the other things. Mr. Furumi says,
“I thought that human brain is finished when it stops to react to external stimulations. It is the same for everyone to miss the family, but the issue is how to deal with the feeling consciously. There is no point in missing the family, as you are in prison and there is no way to see them in Japan, across the sea.”
　What is more important than that is to focus on what you should do now under the environment to bring out the best, and how you can obtain the mindset. The two were fretted about these issues.
　Although it has been a long time since the two predecessors passed away, the precious wisdom obtained in their 18 years of prison life is still fresh, showing us what is important to “cultivate your destiny.”

“Daily Word from Sontoku Ninomiya* ” was edited by Mr. Issei Terada and has been published recently.
　What bears special mentioning about Sontoku is that although he experienced hardships in life, he never criticized or complained about the system or authority, accepted the reality given to him, and made utmost efforts to improve the reality as much as possible.
　When I reflect on that fact, his words, “My way is all about sincerity and execution”, resounded in me.
* Sontoku Ninomiya (1787-1856) was a prominent 19th century Japanese agricultural leader and philosopher. He was born to a poor peasant family but became a great landowner through a hard working. Even to this day, he tends to be regarded as a symbol of hard work and perseverance.
　The Chinese classic, “Zhongyong “, or "The Doctrine of the Golden Mean” teaches us: Every person has a given position. Never be envious or jealous of others, and instead, do your best wholeheartedly.
　Under the given conditions, never curse your destiny, never complain, and make the utmost efforts you can make now─The key to cultivate your destiny lies in this attitude.

⇒　Chichi WEB (Japanese version)

Prefatory Note


Leaders Should Never Become Indecent


Jiro Ushio, Chairman of USHIO INC.

■There Are “Three Highs” for Leaders As Well
　I had close friendship for nearly 40 years with Mr. Saburo Shiroyama, a novelist who passed away in March.
　He was slim by nature, but since his wife passed away 7 years ago, he became frail to the extent his weight was temporarily under 40kg. We used to enjoy playing golf together 3 or 4 times a year, but he began to leave in the middle of the rounds. He lost the vigor he used to have, and I had been concerned about that.
　Mr. Shiroyama occasionally participated in “the Gathering with Mr. Sohei Nakayama”, in which I had been participating in since about the year Showa 40 (1965). There he shared stories with profound implications, with us.
　One of the most impressive stories I heard that I still remember now, is that we were told that there are “three highs” for leaders just like young women who desire “three highs (high educational background, high income, and high height)” as conditions for an ideal marriage partner.
　First “high” is “high stability”. Speaking of people in the management, their business performance must be stable. In the case of leaders in whatever fields other than management, it is important to have their own solid criteria about life and a direction to pursue.
　The second “high” is “high sensitivity”. People with high stability tend to be inferior in terms of sensitivity. However, high sensitivity is required to deal with dizzying pace of changes of the times.
　The third “high” is “high blandness”. Selflessness, unpretentiousness, no appetite for fame and positions, and little material greed. In a nutshell, it is an especially important requirement for leaders not to be indecent.
　Mr. Shiroyama mentioned he was comfortable if people interpreted that he liked those with these “three highs”. It seems people he preferred to write about were those who satisfied the “three highs”, including Koki Hirota*1 of “War Criminal: The Life and Death of Hirota Koki” and Reisuke Ishida*2 of “Rustic, Savage, but Not Indecent”.

*1Koki Hirota (1878-1948) was a Japanese diplomat, politician and the 32nd Prime Minister of Japan from March 9, 1936 to February 2, 1937. Following Japan's surrender in WW�U, Hirota was arrested as a Class A war criminal and was brought before the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. He offered no defense and was found guilty. He was sentenced to hang, and was executed. The severity of his sentence remains controversial, as Hirota was the only civilian executed.
*2Reisuke Ishida was the Head of the Japanese National Railways from 1963 to 1969.
　
■Never Become Arrogant Even in Favorable
Circumstances
　Through my experiences, I realize the importance of Mr. Shiroyama’s warning, that leaders should never become indecent.
　As previously introduced in this Prefatory Note, I met great criticism from the public when I was young. It was because the company, of which I served as an outside director at my friend’s request, went bankrupt. I visited Mr. Wataru Tajitsu, who was the then president of Mitsubishi Bank, Ltd. (current The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.) that we had business with, for apology. Upon then, Mr. Tajitsu kindly advised me, “You were not protective enough and you have to reflect on that. However, what is good about you is you are not indecent. You should never lose the virtue in the future.”
Also, when I was working on creating a private-sector-led society with Mr. Toshio Doko at Doko Ad Hoc Commission on Administrative Reform, Mr. Doko spotted and argued, “People talk about the issues surrounding respecting the bureaucrats and looking down on the citizens. However, the situations were not triggered because the bureaucrats were arrogant. It was rather the indecent mindset of the citizens, who tried to suck up to the bureaucrats, triggering the situations.”
　　It is difficult to keep posture of not being indecent. There are countless examples of respected leaders, who were with honest poverty in pioneer days, expose indecency and lose modesty when their work succeeds. I think it is a more difficult theme to never become arrogant even in favorable circumstances, than to stick to honest poverty in adversity.
Mr. Shiroyama’s last novel, “Commanders’ Suicide Attack”, underlines that how many people had to suffer from the selfishness of leaders. I would like to take each word left by Mr. Shiroyama as an important warning for leaders, and continue thinking about it.


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