Inamori, Kazuo

Kazuo Inamori was born in 1932 in Kagoshima, Japan, which lies on the southern tip of Kyushu Island—the southernmost of Japan’s four largest islands. He was one of seven children. During elementary school, he was a very spirited child who loved science and also showed an interest in the machines that were in his father’s printing shop. When he was in the 6th grade, he contracted tuberculosis. During his illness he read a book by a Buddhist monk, and this sparked his interest in religion. 

During World War II, his family’s home was destroyed by an air raid and the family afterward had to live very modestly. Though he had a scholarship, in order to afford high school and supplement his family’s income, Inamori made and sold paper bags. 

Inamori had high grades in high school in both physics and mathematics. His mathematics teacher, who had previously been the principal of his junior high, was much impressed. This teacher not only persuaded Inamori to continue on with his studies beyond high school, but he also visited Inamori’s parents and convinced them to allow Inamori to go to a university. Inamori enrolled at Kagoshima University, where he majored in organic chemistry. 

Graduating from Kagoshima University, Inamori’s first job was in research and development at Shofu Industries in Kyoto, Japan, where he quickly demonstrated enormous skill. He developed fosterite, the first person in Japan to do so, to serve as an insulator for high frequency radio waves. He then designed the mass production of high frequency insulator components made of fosterite. This led him to invent the electric tunnel kiln, used in sintering, which was then widely adopted in the industry. 

Despite these successes at Shofu, after a strong difference of opinion with his superior, he decided to leave the company. Learning this, several of his co-workers joined him. In 1959, together with seven other colleagues, Inamori established Kyoto Ceramic, which later became known as Kyocera. 

Inamori quickly secured for his company a contract from Matsushita Electronics Industries (now Panasonic), which called for Kyoto Ceramic to manufacture U-shaped Kelcimas (high-frequency insulator components for TV picture tubes). However, worried that his company was too dependent on Matsushita, Inamori sought orders from established Japanese manufacturers. Unfortunately, at that time his efforts did not meet with success, largely due to the Keiretsu (company affiliation) business network system. This led him to seek opportunities in the open markets of the United States. His first U.S. customer was Fairchild Semiconductor, which placed orders for silicon transistor headers. Then IBM placed large-volume orders for ceramic substrates. Inamori continued to develop and refine Cerdip packages and multilayer packages for the U.S. market. Kyocera’s fine ceramics business continued to grow and contributed greatly to the development of the U.S. semiconductor industry. 

To avoid dependence on the semiconductor market, Inamori diversified Kyocera. Initially he turned Kyocera to the manufacture of photovoltaic cells, cutting tools, and bioceramics—all employing fine ceramics technologies. Later, however, through various mergers and acquisitions, he moved Kyocera into other areas—especially the manufacture of electronic information equipment, e.g. laptops, peripheral equipment, and telecommunications equipment. 

When Japan’s telecommunications industry was deregulated in 1984, Inamori decided to establish DDI Corporation (Daini Denden) to compete against NTT (Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation), which up to then had monopolized the Japanese telecommunications market. Not having any infrastructure in place, DDI was forced to rely on microwave communications to establish long distance telecommunication networks.

Several years later, the Japanese government opened mobile communications to competition, and Inamori decided that DDI should enter into the cell phone business. This further contributed to DDI’s growth and evolution. In 2000 DDI merged with KDD (Kokusai Denshin Denwa) and IDO (Nippn Idou Tsushin Corporation, which had been started by Toyota), to form KDDI, which today is the second largest comprehensive telecommunications company in Japan.

In 1984 Inamori also established the Inamori Foundation based on his rationale that we have no higher calling than to serve the greater good of humankind and society. One of the main functions of the foundation is awarding the annual Kyoto Prize, which honors those who have made extraordinary contributions to science, civilization, and the spirituality of humankind.

Inamori has also established the Inamori International Center for Ethics and Excellence at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio), which awards the Inamori Ethics Prize to those who practice model ethical leadership and have contributed significantly to the betterment of global society and mankind.

In 2010, the Japanese government asked Inamori to take the helm of JAL (Japan Airlines) and reconstruct this bankrupt firm. Responding to this special request, Inamori became chairman of JAL. In this capacity, he has focused considerable effort on educating JAL employees, changing their attitudes toward work and customers, as well as on instilling the ailing airline with his innovative management philosophy. By his actions he has been able to strengthen customer service and has quickly turned around and improved JAL’s business performance.

Inamori attributes his overall success to his philosophy of love and caring. His motto is ―Respect the Divine and Love People. In the end, he gives this advice to global leaders who face many challenges: ―Disregard personal egos and act for the greater good and happiness of humanity based on your conscience.

1955	Bachelor of Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Kagoshima University

Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd.

1959

Established Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd. (present Kyocera Corporation); Appointed to the Board of Directors

Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd.

1966

Appointed President of Kyoto Ceramic Co., Ltd.

Kyocera International, Inc.

1969

Established Kyocera International, Inc., CA, U.S.A.; Appointed to the Board of Directors

Inamori Foundation

1984

Established Inamori Foundation; Assumed Presidency

DDI Corporation

1984

Established DDI Corporation; Appointed Chairman of the Board

Kyocera Corporation

1985

Appointed Chairman of the Board of Kyocera Corporation

Kansai Cellular Telephone Co., Ltd.

1987

Established Kansai Cellular Telephone Co., Ltd. (present au
Corporation—a subsidiary of KDDI); Appointed Chairman of
the Board

DDI Pocket Telephone Inc.

1994

Established DDI Pocket Telephone Inc.; Appointed Chairman of
the Board

Hotel Kyocera Corporation

1994

Established Hotel Kyocera Corporation; Appointed Chairman of
the Board

Kyocera Corporation

1997

Resigned Chairman of Kyocera Corporation; Retained the position of Non Representative Director and appointed Founder and Chairman Emeritus

DDI Corporation

1997

Resigned Chairman of the Board and Representative Director of DDI
Corporation; Retained the position of Non Representative Director and appointed Founder and Chairman Emeritus

Kansai Cellular Telephone Co., Ltd.

1997

Resigned Chairman of the Board and Representative Director of Kansai Cellular Telephone Co., Ltd. (present au Corporation); Retained the position of Non Representative Director and appointed Chairman Emeritus

DDI Corporation

2000

DDI Corp. merged with IDO and KDD; The title was changed from
Founder and Chairman Emeritus to Chairman Emeritus

KDDI Corporation

2001

DDI Corporation changed the name to KDDI Corporation

KDDI Corporation

2001

Resigned Chairman Emeritus and appointed an Honorary Adviser of
KDDI Corporation

Seiwa Social Welfare Association

2003

Established Seiwa Social Welfare Association; Assumed Presidency

Inamori Social Welfare Foundation

2003

Established Inamori Social Welfare Foundation; Assumed Presidency

Japan Airlines Corporation

2010

Appointed Chairman of Japan Airlines Corporation; Assumed special
adviser to the Cabinet

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

2011

Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd changed its trade name to Japan
Airlines Co., Ltd.; The title was changed from Chairman to
Representative Director, Chairman

Kyocera Corporation

present

Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Kyocera Corporation

KDDI Corporation

present

Honorary Advisor, KDDI Corporation

Inamori Foundation

present

President, Inamori Foundation

Seiwa Social Welfare Association

present

President, Seiwa Social Welfare Association

Inamori Social Welfare Foundation

present

President, Inamori Social Welfare Foundation

Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

present

Representative Director, Chairman, Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.

1972	The 18th Okochi Memorial Grand Production Prize
1974	The 16th Commendation by the Director of State for Science and Technology
1979	Honorary Citizen of San Diego County, California, U.S.A.
1984	National Medals of Honor with Purple Ribbon
1984	Foreign Member, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Sweden
1988	The Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, Babson College, U.S.A.
1988	Honorary Doctorate, Science, University of Denver, U.S.A.
1988	Honorary Doctorate, Humane Letters, Alfred University, U.S.A.
1990	Honorary Citizenship of Shilong Town, Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, China
1991	Jason Ammons Free Enterprise Award, Coastal Carolina College, U.S.A.
1995	T. Keith Glennan Lecturer, Case Western Reserve University, U.S.A.
1995	Henry Townley Heald Award, Illinois Institute of Technology, U.S.A.
1995	Honorary Doctorate, Science, Cranfield University, U.K.
1996	Honorary Citizen of Dongguan City, China
1996	Doctor of Humane Letters, University of San Diego, U.S.A.
1997	The 1997 Distinguished Leadership Award in Japan Society of Boston, U.S.A.
1998	Lifetime of Innovation Award of the International Union of Materials Research Societies, U.S.A.
1999	Honorary Citizen of Asuncion, Paraguay
1999	Frontiers of Science-Rustum Roy Lecture, The American Ceramic Society, U.S.A.
1999	John Francis McMahon Lecturer, Alfred University, U.S.A.
1999	Person of the Year, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Japan, Japan
1999	Honorary Doctorate, Kagoshima University, Japan
1999	Visiting Professor, Nankai University, China
1999	Distinguished Lifetime Member, The American Ceramic Society, U.S.A.
2000	National Order of the Southern Cross, Brazil
2000	Honorary Professor, Xinjiang University, China
2000	Visiting Professor, Sun Yat-Sen University, China
2000	Foreign Associate, National Academy of Engineering, U.S.A.
2001	Honorary Citizenship of Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China
2001	Honorary Doctorate, Science, The Pennsylvania State University, U.S.A.
2001	Honorary Professor, Northeast Normal University, China
2001	Honorary Chairman, the Kyoto Chamber of Commerce and Industry
2001	Senior Advisor, China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (Inamori-Kyocera Western Development Scholarship Fund), China
2001	Economic Advisor for the Tianjin Municipal Government, China
2002	Concurrent Professorship, Nanjin University, China
2002	Trustee Emeritus, Carnegie Institution of Washington, U.S.A. (Trustee, 1990-2002)
2002	Honorary Consul, Republic of Paraguay
2003	The 2003 Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, U.S.A.
2004	Honorary President, Honorary Professor, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, China
2004	Envoy of Sino-Japanese Friendship, China-Japan Friendship Association, China
2005	Honorary Citizenship of Jingdezhen, China
2006	Honorary Doctorate, Engineering, Kyushu University, Japan
2006	Honorary Doctorate, Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, U.S.A.
2007	Herb Klein Civic Leadership Award, U.S.A.
2009	The "Entrepreneur for the World" Award, France
2010	Honorary Doctorate, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Japan
2010	Chairman of the board of directors, Kyoto International Conference Center
2011	International Citizens Award, Japan America Society of Southern California, U.S.A.
2011	Othmer Gold Medal, Chemical Heritage Foundation, U.S.A.
2011	Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science, San Diego State University, U.S.A.

Thomas R. Tritton

Thomas R. Tritton is president and CEO of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. Prior to CHF, Tritton served as the twelfth president of Haverford College. His academic field is cancer chemotherapy and his work is represented in over 150 publications. Before Haverford, he was a professor of pharmacology for twelve years each at Yale University and the University of Vermont. At the University of Vermont he also served as deputy director of the Vermont Comprehensive Cancer Center and as vice provost of the university. Tritton currently serves on the boards of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, Ohio Wesleyan University, and the Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress. He is also a member of the Corporation of Haverford College. In 2007, before assuming the CHF presidency, Tritton was at Harvard University, where he held the title of "President in Residence" at the Graduate School of Education. He worked with graduate students in higher education, wrote and taught about leadership and the college presidency, and also designed a new course on social justice.

Hyungsub Choi

Hyungsub Choi is manager of the emerging technologies program at the Center for Contemporary History and Policy. His training is in the history of science and technology, with specialties in recent developments in the fields of semiconductors, materials science, and nanotechnology. He has received degrees from Seoul National University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University. He was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Choi’s works have appeared in leading professional journals, such as Technology and Culture and Social Studies of Science. Currently, he is preparing a book examining the history of the semiconductor industry in the United States and Japan. He also directs the Robert W. Gore Materials Innovation project.

Richard Ulrych

Richard Ulrych is the director of institutional grants and strategic projects at the Chemical Heritage Foundation.