This time, Inamori* spoke about the above motto in Kyocera philosophy.
What Inamori said is quoted with “”.
“Fukuzawa Yukichi once described the essential qualities of a leader in the world of business.
At the top of his list was this phrase:
“His thoughts must be as profound as those of a philosopher.”
He was speaking of jitsugy?ka—a true entrepreneur, a merchant in the noblest sense.
According to Fukuzawa, an excellent person worthy of being called a leader in the business world should first and foremost possess:
“The depth of thought of a philosopher,
the noble and honest mind of a Genroku-era samurai,
the practical talent of a petty government official,
and, in addition, the sturdy body of a peasant.”
The “petty official” (sho zokuri) refers to the low-ranking bureaucrats of early Meiji Japan—clever fellows who might even accept a small bribe but who had real business acumen.
And the “sturdy body of a peasant” symbolizes the endurance and diligence of those who work the soil.
Fukuzawa concluded that only when one embodies all these traits can one become a true adult—a true leader—in the world of enterprise.”
Here, Inamori suggests that to become a true “adult” — a leader in the world of business — one must possess the commercial wit of a petty official (sho zokuri).
The term sho zokuri refers to bureaucratic, rule-bound civil servants — the kind of people who, though modest in status, know how the system works.
Why, then, is such a talent necessary for a leader?
I believe Inamori emphasized the importance of this shrewd sense of commerce for the following reasons:
１ To understand human desire — a leader must grasp what truly motivates people.
２ To understand the flow of money — one must know how value is created and circulated.
３ To read the flow of the times — the ability to sense social and economic change is vital for survival and growth.
I will now explain each point in greater depth.
１ To understand human desire — a leader must grasp what truly motivates people.
Inamori’s words:
“Fukuzawa also wrote that one must add to this the talent of a petty official.
In the Meiji era, there were likely many low-ranking bureaucrats who, having suddenly become government officials, took bribes and misused their positions.
Fukuzawa referred to these people as sh? zokuri—petty officials.
Those who took bribes, he said, were not without ability.
They were sharp, quick-witted, and clever enough to sense opportunities.
After all, a person without such perceptiveness could not even manage to take a bribe.
Fukuzawa thus pointed out that a truly capable person must also possess the alertness and resourcefulness of those petty bureaucrats.”
(Quoted from Inamori Digital Library)
My Commentary
Here, Inamori is praising the quality of being keenly perceptive.
To be perceptive, one must understand where human desires lie, and how they can influence behavior.
Inamori’s message, as I interpret it, is that we must think strategically—know what moves people, and use that insight wisely.
This, I realize, is an aspect I personally lack.
Having a pure and sincere heart is, of course, essential.
However, in a world where competition is fierce and opportunities are fleeting, it is equally important to observe human desire with a calm and unbiased eye.
The ability to read the room, to sense opportunities, and to act on them with agility—this, too, is an indispensable quality for any true leader in today’s business world.
２ To understand the flow of money — one must know how value is created and circulated.
Inamori’s words:
“In the well-known formula shown below—
“Results in life and work = Thinking (mindset) × Enthusiasm × Ability”
—Inamori explained that Thinking refers to having “the depth of thought of a philosopher”, and Enthusiasm means “the noble and honest spirit of a Genroku-era samurai.”
At the same time, he emphasized that Ability corresponds to “the talent of a petty official”—that is, practical skill and shrewdness in business.”
(Quoted from Inamori Digital Library)
My Commentary
Inamori seems to define ability as understanding the flow of money, and skillfully providing products or services that make others willing to pay with genuine satisfaction.
Consider, for example, a so-called marriage scammer who, it is said, would spend hours every day simply listening to a woman’s stories, saying almost nothing, and massaging her shoulders or legs.
Many of these women reportedly insisted, “There’s no way I’m being deceived.”
Similarly, in “It’s me!” phone scams (ore-ore sagi), the perpetrators craft situations that make the victims truly believe the story—they read the heart and the behavior of others, predicting exactly how they will respond.
In both cases, the essence lies in understanding what moves people emotionally and financially—how to guide them into acting, even willingly parting with their money.
In today’s world, many business models rely on government subsidies as a source of income.
Such subsidies are not inherently bad; they exist to be used for the benefit of the public.
However, overreliance on them may cause instability when legal or institutional frameworks change.
Therefore, the key lies in one’s way of thinking—to recognize these monetary flows objectively, make use of them in moderation, and remain guided by sound philosophy rather than by greed.
３ To read the flow of the times — the ability to sense social and economic change is vital for survival and growth.
Inamori’s words:
“There was no place for me to run.
Having no other choice, I threw myself into research in my company’s humble laboratory—
research on fine ceramics that would become essential for the new age.”
(Quoted from the Inamori Digital Library)
My Commentary
This is precisely what makes Inamori so remarkable.
He saw what lay directly before him as the work that the new era would require, and he devoted himself to it wholeheartedly.
Today, we find ourselves in an age defined by artificial intelligence.
It is said that AI may replace as much as seventy percent of conventional white-collar jobs.
Within such an environment, we must ask:
What will people truly seek?
What kinds of services will they value?
Some say people will turn toward travel, human connection, and shared experiences.
That may be one positive direction.
On the other hand, many may lose their jobs and struggle to maintain mental and emotional balance.
Speculative investment and financial obsession will likely intensify as people search for new forms of security and excitement.
In such times, the state of one’s mind, philosophy, and conviction will be tested more deeply than ever before.
The spiritual dimension of life will occupy a more central place in human concern.
Therefore, I believe that business and leadership grounded in the heart will become even more essential.
In summary, the so-called “talent of a petty official” may sound cynical or even derogatory at first.
Yet in truth, it represents something vital for all leaders today—
the ability to understand people’s needs, to grasp the flow of money, and to read the trend of the times.
This shrewd and observant intelligence is a talent every entrepreneur must cultivate.
As for myself, I intend to keep learning it consciously, with humility and determination.
* 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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