“Lessons in Originality from Steve Jobs — How to Do Truly Creative Work”

This time, Inamori* spoke about the above motto in Kyocera philosophy.

What Inamori said is quoted with “”.

 

“The tendency toward imitation among Japanese companies is one of the main causes of excessive competition. When one company succeeds with a new technology or idea, others immediately produce similar products and compete for the same market share — a kind of homogeneous rivalry.

This tendency to imitate or conform, deeply rooted in the Japanese character, is believed to have originated from the rice-cultivation culture that began in the Yayoi period. Indeed, this collective mindset has contributed greatly to Japan’s past economic success. However, today it has become, conversely, a factor of confusion in overseas markets.

To reform this tendency toward imitation in Japan, we must first reconsider the value system that prioritizes harmony within the group above all else, and instead promote education that encourages the establishment of the individual.

At the same time, creating such an order of fair competition will not only save us from endless domestic rivalries, but also pave the way toward a truly relaxed and fulfilling society.”*

— Kazuo Inamori, “From Imitation to Originality in Japanese Corporations,” Nikkei Shimbun, June 18, 1992 (“Economic Classroom: Proposals from Business Leaders”)

Here, Inamori emphasizes the importance of true originality for the Japanese people.

Recently, I have studied the life of Apple’s founder, Steve Jobs, and examined his destiny through the lens of Sanmei-gaku (the Chinese-Japanese philosophy/analysis of destiny).

From that study, I discovered several key insights into how one can cultivate originality — the kind that both Inamori and Jobs embodied:

 

 

 

 

I will now explain each point in greater depth.

 

１. Expose yourself to foreign philosophies and cultures.

Inamori’s Words

“Saigo Takamori endured immense hardship — the kind of suffering that makes one wonder whether he would live out his days in exile on the remote island of Okinoerabu in Amami.

We all know the moral teachings and ethical principles preached by the sages of ancient China. Yet it is only after experiencing this bitter hardship several times that such teachings truly become part of our blood and flesh, shaping our character and influencing who we are.”

(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library)

My Commentary

Steve Jobs studied Zen and was deeply familiar with Asian spirituality.

It is said that he also incorporated Eastern concepts of medicine and healing into his life.

From this exposure to entirely different cultures and philosophies, he developed new perspectives — and a kind of originality that transcended conventional thinking.

I believe that encountering diverse systems of thought and spirituality is one of the true sources of creativity.

At present, I am studying Chinese classics, but I also wish to explore Greek philosophy and Judeo-Christian thought.

By immersing ourselves in the wisdom of other civilizations, we can discover fresh points of view — seeds of new ideas that awaken genuine originality.

 

２. Visualize the future of the world.

Inamori’s words

“Since my company had been supplying semiconductor packages worldwide, I had closely observed the entire history of the evolution of ultra-LSI technology.

Therefore, I foresaw that if semiconductors continued to develop as they were, the large transmitters and receivers that once filled a trunk case would eventually become small enough to fit inside a mobile phone. I thought that such an era would come in five—or perhaps seven or eight—years.

In other words, I sensed that the age of car phones would soon give way to the age of mobile phones. Following that intuition, when car phones were deregulated in Japan, I immediately raised my hand and said, ‘I want Daini Denden (DDI) to take part in it.’”

(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library)

My Commentary

When Steve Jobs developed iTunes, his goal was to make it possible for people to carry thousands, even tens of thousands, of songs anywhere, anytime.

From records to cassette tapes to CDs, the devices used to store and carry music had evolved over time.

Yet our way of thinking remained essentially the same — to “put music into something and carry it around.”

Although the containers kept getting smaller, few had ever imagined storing music without any physical form, existing purely in digital space.

Jobs took on what most people believed was impossible: turning a dream into a tangible experience.

To make that happen, he first had to envision the future — a world where everyone could access their entire music library through a small iTunes device, carrying limitless songs in their pocket.

It is from such vivid imagination — the ability to picture a future that does not yet exist — that true originality is born.

 

３. Keep thinking until you can truly see.

Inamori’s Words

“When launching a new business, I envision in my mind the exact situation as if we had already entered the market, and then I construct concrete measures to handle every possible challenge.

I repeat this mental simulation again and again until I can vividly picture the moment of success—the joy of achieving the goal.

In other words, it is essential to think until you can truly see. Conversely, if the image of success—the vision of achievement—does not come into view, you must not proceed.

It is just like playing Go or Shogi:(Japanese chess) you must read many moves ahead—‘If I play this, and my opponent responds that way, then I will counter like this.’ You anticipate each response and keep thinking until you can clearly see yourself winning the game.

If, through this process, you find that your reasoning leads to a dead end, you simply reset and start over—because in your mind, there is no loss, only learning.

You must repeat this cycle continually until the final move—the decisive step that ensures victory—becomes clearly visible.

And it must not appear merely in black and white; it must emerge in full color, vivid and unmistakable.

This may sound almost mystical, but in fact, when I launched new businesses, I could often see the entire path ahead—clearly, as if projected before my eyes.”

(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library)

My Commentary

Steve Jobs was said to have tolerated no compromise in the design of the iPad and iPhone.

He valued transparency, simplicity, and style — creating devices that felt less like computers and more like beautiful, personal accessories.

I believe Jobs could see, in full color, exactly what kind of users would hold these devices in their hands and how they would feel using them.

Inspired by Inamori’s approach, I, too, wish to keep simulating my own vision—over and over—until I can see it clearly.

 

 

To summarize:

 

 

* Mr. Kazuo Inamori, the founder of Kyocera, KDDI (one of the top tele communication companies in Japan) and the top of revitalization project of JAL. As a well-known Japanese entrepreneur, he has been sharing his experiences and management know-how with managements of small to middle companies in Japan.

 

Further queries or doubts, please email to ytomizuka@abrilsjp.com

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