이나모리 가즈오
Founder of Kyocera and KDDI; led the turnaround of Japan Airlines; amoeba management
314 records in all
3 free questions a day, no sign-up.
Photo: Conrad Erb / Science History Institute CC BY-SA 3.0 Original cropped
11 basic records of 71
Episodes are real events from public sources, summarised by us.
Inamori donated one million shares of Kyocera stock from his personal holdings to his alma mater, Kagoshima University. The university used these funds to support student overseas studies and researcher development.
LessonGiving back to the institutions that provided your start creates a cycle of opportunity for future innovators.
While working at Shofu Industrial, Inamori wrote a letter to his father detailing his struggles and his firm resolve to start his own company. This letter captured his transition from an employee to a visionary founder.
LessonA clear, written commitment to your vision can sustain you through the difficult transition from employment to entrepreneurship.
Inamori volunteered to lead a private management school to teach his philosophy to young leaders. The school grew to over 100 locations worldwide before closing in 2019.
LessonSharing management wisdom creates a lasting legacy and strengthens the business community.
Inamori founded Kyocera in 1959 without a clear management criteria. He decided to rely on the simple moral principles of right and wrong taught by his parents and teachers.
LessonWhen starting out, use basic human ethics as your primary decision-making framework.
Despite being nearly 60 and facing time constraints, Inamori decided to expand his study group nationwide. He aimed to reach 5,000 members to help elevate the character of managers across Japan.
LessonScaling your impact requires a clear vision and the willingness to commit personal effort to a larger cause.
When Kagoshima City requested financial help for a culture hall, Inamori agreed immediately because he remembered the scholarship they gave him when he was poor. He funded a monument and a social welfare fund for the city.
LessonGratitude for early support should drive a founder's later philanthropic decisions.
Inamori established a national convention where members' spouses could participate. This was done to show gratitude for the spouses' support and to help them understand the nature of the business owners' work.
LessonAcknowledging the support system behind a founder fosters deeper commitment and harmony in both personal and professional life.
New employees demanded future wage guarantees, leading to three days of intense negotiations. This confrontation forced Inamori to shift his focus from his own technology to the lifelong wellbeing of his employees.
LessonTrue management begins when a leader takes responsibility for the lives of those they employ.
Following the 1973 oil shock, Kyocera's orders plummeted by 90%. Inamori refused to lay off staff, instead freezing management wages and reassigning everyone to sales and R&D until the economy recovered.
LessonProtecting employment during a crisis builds deep loyalty that fuels rapid recovery when the market turns.
Faced with a mountain of issues, Inamori decided to base every decision on the simple ethics learned in childhood. He focused on whether an action was 'right as a human being' rather than what was expedient.
LessonSimple, primitive moral teachings are the most effective tools for complex business leadership.
Inamori built his companies on the belief that human minds, while fragile, are the strongest force when bonded by trust. He treated his employees like an extended family, sharing joys and sorrows and helping each other unconditionally.
LessonTrust is not found by looking for it in others, but by cultivating a trustworthy mind within yourself first.
You are seeing 47 basic records. Membership answers from all 314 of this master's records.
See membershipFounders and company builders
These records are our compilation of public statements and sources. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Kazuo Inamori or any related company. If something should come down, tell us. Takedown request form
