A Story of Trust
(Source: PHP Interface, 1994)
Yoshiya Hattori, President and CEO
The god of fate sometimes places a harsh ordeal on even those who are good-hearted. That year was 1923 and the 47-year-old man was in his prime. He was about to witness a manifestation of 40 years of hard labor that spanned over two generations―the completion of a new Tokyo factory capable of producing woolen raw materials as well as woolen products. However, this achievement was never meant to be, as the completion ceremony took place on September 1st. The Great Kanto Earthquake, instantly brought the new factory to ashes before it even managed to produce its first piece of material. It was in autumn when the scattered employees gathered to where the building once stood.
The 47-year old man
was calling on them to rebuild the factory.
In a hopeless situation where many were convinced that it was an end to the business , he provided plans for rebuilding the factory, and it was at this moment when the most inspirational were heard by all. “The accounting books have all burnt and there is nothing left”, he said. “However, we all have memories of what we owe. Please work together and write me a new, provisional account book. Write down everything we owe, no matter how small. We must do everything to repay all of our debts.”
Another 10 years had passed when all the creditors were found, and the debts were repaid.
I am not sure as to how he came to say and act as he did in such a desperate situation where nothing but a huge debt existed. There was never a mention of what was owed to him. All I know is, since the day I first heard the story from a senior employee just after I joined the company, I have always felt a great sense of inspiration each time I told others the same story. I believe that those from 70 years ago too were truly touched, and that this was what made the “trust” towards him and the company a firm one.
With warm support and helping hands of those from banks, trading houses and business partners, production resumed a year later, and after a few more years, the business achieved a full recovery.
The “he” I refer to is Kohachi Kurihara, the second president of Daidoh Limited (then Kurihara Boshoku Gomei Gaisha), and our great senior who showed all of us what “trust” was about through his honorable actions.
In an industry with no involvement in the subsistence of a nation and hence far from its protection, I think it can be said that the years of believing in a better tomorrow for every employee and 115 years of existence is nothing but fortunate. However, there is also Kohachi Kurihara's unbelievable achievement that supported the existence of our company in a deep sense. Lately, I have come to think that Kurihara's actions were in no way a scheme for the sake of business, but it was to not lose the “trust” that mattered to him more than not losing a business.
(Mr. Hattori's position is what was held at the time this essay was written.)
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