Kazuo Inamori
Founder of Kyocera and KDDI who rescued Japan Airlines
- Lived
- 90 yrs
- 1932 – 2022
- Works listed
- 2
- Book
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Kazuo Inamori was a Japanese entrepreneur and Buddhist priest who founded the ceramics company Kyocera and the telecoms company that became KDDI. In his late seventies he rescued bankrupt Japan Airlines. He created the Kyoto Prize and died in 2022.
Biography
Background
Inamori studied applied chemistry at Kagoshima University and worked at a ceramics company in Kyoto.
Kyocera
In 1959 he founded Kyoto Ceramic (Kyocera), making fine-ceramic insulators for electronics, including chip packages for Intel and Fairchild.
KDDI
In 1984 he founded DDI to compete with the NTT monopoly. It merged in 2000 to form KDDI, now Japan’s second-largest telecoms company.
Japan Airlines and philosophy
At 77 he took over bankrupt Japan Airlines in 2010 without pay and returned it to profit. He was ordained a Zen priest and founded the Inamori Foundation’s Kyoto Prize in 1984.
Timeline
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1932
Born in Kagoshima, Japan
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1959
Founds Kyocera
-
1984
Founds DDI; Kyoto Prize
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1997
Ordained a Zen priest
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2000
KDDI formed
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2010
Leads Japan Airlines
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2022
Dies
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2022
Died, aged 90
Notable works
-
2010
A Compass to Fulfillment Book
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2012
Amoeba Management Book
Did you know?
-
1
His “amoeba management” splits a company into small profit units.
-
2
He gave much of his fortune to the Inamori Foundation.
-
3
Case Western Reserve University has an Inamori Center for ethics.
Connections
Also born on 21 January
Frequently asked
Who is Kazuo Inamori?
Kazuo Inamori was a Japanese entrepreneur and Buddhist priest who founded the ceramics company Kyocera and the telecoms company that became KDDI. In his late seventies he rescued bankrupt Japan Airlines. He created the Kyoto Prize and died in 2022.
When did Kazuo Inamori die?
Kazuo Inamori died on 24 August 2022 at the age of 90.
Where is Kazuo Inamori from?
Kazuo Inamori was born in Kagoshima, Japan.
What is Kazuo Inamori known for?
Kazuo Inamori is best known for Founding Kyocera (1959) and DDI/KDDI (1984); turning around Japan Airlines; the Kyoto Prize.
References
- Kazuo Inamori — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Kazuo Inamori — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Official website. global.kyocera.com. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
- Kazuo Inamori (Q982623) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 4 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Kazuo Inamori”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 4 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Kazuo Inamori.” TrackFame, last updated 4 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/kazuo-inamori
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