“What is Good?” — On the Philosophy of “Is Your Motive Pure and Free of Self-Interest?”　

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

What Inamori said is quoted with “”.

“ The question, ‘Is your motive pure and free of self-interest?’ lies at the heart of what we call “mindset,” one of the core components of our life formula. It is a self-reflective inquiry meant to examine whether one’s actions are driven by selfish desires or rooted in a distorted mindset—one that prioritizes personal gain, money, or power over truth and integrity. The word “good” in this context refers simply to what is honest, helpful to others, kind, compassionate, beautiful, and, in the deepest sense, pure-hearted. All these virtues are encompassed by the word “good.”

When we question our motives, we must ask ourselves: Is this action beautiful? Is it good? Does it help others? Does it show kindness? Is there compassion? And ultimately, is it born from a pure heart? I believe that this style of self-questioning makes the concept easier to understand and more approachable. ”

In this issue, I explore the theme, What is Good?, by focusing on Inamori’s profound statement: “Is your motive pure and free of self-interest?” This phrase touches not only on management but also on life itself. I have reflected on it through the lens of my own experience and thoughts. As Inamori emphasizes, it is vital that we examine whether what we are doing is truly “good.”

At this moment, our company is considering launching a new venture. To assess whether the motivation behind this endeavor is genuinely good, I have outlined three guiding questions:

Let me explain them one by one.

1. If I were to die tomorrow, is this truly what I should be doing today?

“ ’We only live once. So why not burn with a passion to devote ourselves to the world and to others? Life comes only once—shouldn’t we at least try to do something truly noble, no matter how hard it may be?’

I often said this to encourage people around me.｡｡｡｡｡｡｡Every day of my life began at the crack of dawn, starting with unfinished work from the day before. I had to fulfill the orders I had promised, and so I lived each day with utter intensity. There was no time to think about tomorrow. I just gave everything I had to that single day. At most, I would think a week ahead—sometimes a month, depending on the task—but most of the time, I lived one day at a time, wholeheartedly. That was my daily life. ”

→ As these words reflect, Inamori also emphasized the importance of living each day with utmost sincerity and seriousness. If we believe that what we are doing serves the world and helps others, and if we accept that we might not be here tomorrow, then even in the face of hardship, we will feel compelled to do what must be done today. We should strive to act on the things we truly believe must not be left undone.

2. Would this action be something I could carry out without shame before those who sacrificed their lives as kamikaze pilots?

“ The spirit of altruism is the resolve to act for the benefit of others, even if it means sacrificing oneself. The success of great individuals is not due to the means they employ, but to the purity of their hearts. ”

→ This ultimate form of altruism can perhaps be seen in the missions carried out by tokk?tai—the kamikaze pilots during the war. Let me be clear: this metaphor is not intended to glorify war. Rather, it is meant to highlight the selflessness and purity of heart that these individuals embodied.

I once read that many kamikaze pilots, in their final moments, uttered words such as “Long live the Emperor” and “Thank you, Mother,” as they gave their lives. Reflecting on such deeply noble and untainted hearts, I feel the need to ask myself: is what I am about to do something I could carry out without shame in front of them? We must never forget that the peace, order, and economic prosperity we enjoy in Japan today have been built upon such profound sacrifices. That awareness should remain engraved in our hearts.

3. Can I regard this path as part of my personal training and spiritual discipline?

“ Sontoku Ninomiya viewed agricultural work not simply as labor, but as a form of spiritual training through which he cultivated his own life philosophy. According to the book, Representative Japanese, Sontoku judged people not by their words or appearances, but by whether their motives were genuinely good. He never relied on formal rules or clever strategies. Instead, he dedicated himself to steady, honest work and persistent effort. He believed that if a person worked wholeheartedly with a clear and unclouded mind, even Heaven and Earth would lend their support. There is an old Indian proverb: If your motives are good and free of selfishness, success is certain. ”

→ I believe this comes down to how we choose to use the life and talents we have been given. If we can regard everything we do as part of our own training—our spiritual discipline—then we can endure even the harshest challenges. And if we feel that Heaven and Earth are not on our side, perhaps it is because our efforts are still insufficient, or our hearts are still clouded.

In the lens of Sanmei-gaku (the traditional Eastern destiny-based philosophy), Inamori’s natal chart contains an abundance of “water sources.” In fact, his chart is composed almost entirely of them. When too many streams feed into a river, even if the water is crystal-clear upstream, it becomes muddy downstream. In metaphysical terms, these “water sources” represent various attachments—desire, ego, and self-interest— that can muddy the pure stream of one’s heart. And so, in order to keep his inner water clear, Inamori devoted himself every day to elevating his ideals. He once reflected on his career as a business leader by saying, “It was a daily effort to keep refining my philosophy.”

That level of relentless pursuit of goodness and selflessness must have demanded extraordinary discipline. I believe it was precisely because he guarded his heart so carefully that such great success followed.

Closing reflections

* 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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