Project members

Project leader

Takahiro NakajimaProfessor at the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo. Affiliate Professor at OIC Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University

Project members

Tomoji OnozukaProfessor in Economic History at Faculty of Economics, The University of Tokyo

Yoshinori HiroiProfessor at Kokoro Research Center, Kyoto University

Tsutomu HoriuchiResearch Professor at Tama Graduate School of Business, Tama University

Shunichi MaruyamaExecutive Producer at Program Development Production Headquarters, NHK Enterprises, Inc.

Yosuke YasudaAssociate Professor at Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University

Research project summary (Objectives/goals (results))

‘Capitalism and humanity’ is a concept for a future that calls human value into question in a manner that differs from the simple conversion of labor and consumption into pricing. It is a conceptual platform that attempts to replace the potentially uncontrollable concept of capitalism with something that can be of greater benefit to humans.

The originator of the Inamori philosophy, Dr. Kazuo Inamori is an internationally renowned business operator, having founded Kyocera and KDDI, and having played a leading in restoring JAL. Dr. Inamori is also a philosophical thinker who espouses the value of altruism. The Inamori philosophy outlines a practical approach while retaining a deeply spiritual bent. We will attempt to deepen our philosophical understanding of the Inamori philosophy, and plot out the current capitalistic condition under a new concept of ‘capitalism and humanity.’

Through this research we will attempt to demonstrate our conviction that an altruistic outlook can plot a course for human civilization and capitalism—one that balances social dynamism in the pursuit of profits with ethics—while showing how an altruistic outlook can lead to the lasting development of human civilization and society, and the recovery of human dignity.

① The ‘capitalism and humanity’ condition

Outlines the impact felt by ‘capitalism and humanity’ on world affairs, and politics, the economy, and people’s everyday lives.

② ‘Capitalism and humanity,’ and people

As disparity continues to grow, we will rethink human dignity, and attempt to plot out a course to a stable, sustainable society, restoring dignity, and offering social stability.

③ ‘Capitalism and humanity,’ and nations and religion

The spread of globalization brought by ‘capitalism and humanity’ may be met with the spread of national resistance and religious fundamentalism. We will look at these existing structures in place, and their relation to ‘capitalism and humanity.’

④ ‘Capitalism and humanity,’ and the Inamori philosophy

The Inamori philosophy takes what it means to be human and human value into consideration, and gives an indication as to how to restore a sense of significance into one’s life and human dignity. We will think on how the spread and popularization of the Inamori philosophy will lead to a new form of civilization with the spirit of altruism at its core curbing the excessive pursuit of self-interest.

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