JWH Author's Voice The voice of invincibility reaches Russia
My first impression of Mr. Keiichi Tainaka, the author of "Want to Win? Get Serious!," still remains strong. His arms, as seen through the opening of his cuffs, were fully emblazoned with splendid tattoos. When he walked, there was a swagger in his gait. When he looked at you, he gave you a sharp glare. No matter how you diced it, he seemed shady. The first thing he said to me right off the bat was "Sensei Chikatani, I look forward to receiving your guidance. You know, Japan can be very bad. Once someone drops out of society, people get cold. Hey, despite my appearances, I'm seriously busting my chops to contribute to world peace here, you know!”At the time, I really didn't know what he was talking about, but I became interested in this charismatic figure nevertheless and decided to read a few of his literary works. Mr. Tainaka was a former gang leader and the president of a right-wing organization. He became notorious as a business yakuza and even after the burst of Japan's bubble economy, it is said that he was on solid financial ground, driving around town in a Bentley or a Rolls Royce and carrying with him an amount of hundreds of millions of yen in cash. However, after turning 35, he spent time behind bars, during which time he began to realize the error of his ways. "You see, when I was the chief of a motorcycle gang and when I was the head of a yakuza group, frankly speaking, I was convinced that I was invincible. But I went into solitary confinement and since I was cocky, I was treated very badly and ended up shedding a bucket-load of tears. But it was at that moment that I saw the light and became aware for the first time that I was not invincible after all. I can't tell you how much trouble I had caused other people until that moment in my life. And then I decided to completely sever my ties to the underground world and I vowed that I will never again step over other people." Having dropped out of society once, Mr. Tainaka, during his incarceration, agonized over his future path. Consequently, soon after his release, he paid out a considerable sum as consolation money to members of the underworld to sever all ties with them and thereafter became penniless. He then went on to search for work in the field of chiropractic treatment, an area for which he had received certification during his youth. However, in the end, he was refused by every place he inquired, which amounted to over 1,000 firms at the end of the day. He says that what struck him the most then was the reality of how cold society could be to a dropout. 
But after this ordeal, he worked as a volunteer in a home for the aged and as a result began to receive a paycheck of 50,000 yen. The first time he received this money remains an unforgettable experience, he says. He then went on to launch the Tainaka Chiropractic Center and ended up being an employer of many people. However, his management style is one of a kind. Here are some illuminating quotes."A person's past is entirely irrelevant. Whether you're an ex-criminal, a multiple debtor, a senior citizen, my doors are open to anyone with motivation.” “At my company, the rate of employment is 100%!” “If you can't put into practice what you studied, your educational background is worthless as a piece of dried snot to me.” “A person without a dream in which they can take a gamble on themselves is far more pathetic than a person without an academic degree.” “Management is all about gumption. Taking action counts more than playing a staring game with figures.” “The guy who takes action is the most admirable of them all.” “It's also essential to cultivate employees who can greet properly.” At that time, I was associating with a certain business analyst specializing in small to mid-sized companies. This person was on the verge of turning eighty, but he was still active in his field and had been working as such an analyst for over half a century by then. Whenever I met him, I learned various lessons. He could tell the current state or the future of any kind of company in an instant without having to look into its financial statements. All he had to do was to visit and take a peek inside the firm. According to him, it's the seemingly trivial matters that determine the fate of a company's future?matters such as the level of activity in the office, the way employees greet others, and the way they interact with clients. This very same analyst, an elderly mentor of life no doubt, read Mr. Tainaka’s book and commented, "What he says is genuine." I have known Mr. Tainaka now for more than three years, and I am happy to announce that JWH has helped to realize the publication of a Russian version of his book, "If You Get Serious, You Can Win Without A Doubt.” It had been a while since I phoned him the last time, but when I rang him up, he sounded as energetic as ever, answering in his characteristic thick voice, "I'll fly to Russia or wherever! Just help me as best you can, won’t you?"
Koji Chikatani, Senior Agent, Japanese Writers' House  ♠ Check out Tainaka's Want to Win? Get Serious! at Japanese Writers' House | |
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