Heart

I received this small book as a gift from a colleague at my company. They told me that just by looking at the title, they immediately thought of me. That made me quite curious and eager to explore this present.

The book cover features the Japanese word “Heart” (心) in black, centered against a large white space—an aesthetic that strongly reflects the minimalist philosophy of the Japanese. The author is Inamori Kazuo, a legendary entrepreneur and the founder of Kyocera, a leading company in semiconductor components and technology devices. He is also widely recognized for playing a crucial role in reviving Japan Airlines during its crisis.

This book, just over 200 pages long, is written in a language that is neither complex nor lofty—quite the opposite, it is remarkably simple. I finished it in just three days, including time for taking notes and summarizing key points. What’s interesting is that, although it’s a book on leadership and business philosophy, Kazuo’s thinking is deeply infused with Buddhist values. He speaks about the concept of “true self” as the root of the soul, emphasizing that the ultimate goal in life is simply to nurture it each day. Reading the book feels like sitting across from a wise mentor, listening to his reflections on personal growth. Whether life brings favorable or challenging circumstances, the key is to embrace them and move forward with humanity and grace.

Some passages left a deep impression on me:

“The human heart is like a garden. You can choose to tend to it, or you can leave it untended. Either way, something will grow. If you do not plant beautiful flowers and grass in this garden, then one day, wild weeds will take root and soon overrun the entire space.”

“No matter who we are, the only time we truly have is the present moment. The way we live in this very moment, with what kind of heart, will determine the course of our lives.”