Uchikura & Co., LLC

The Man Who Helped Rescue Japan

Toshio Doko (土光敏夫, 1896–1988) was one of the most remarkable business leaders in postwar Japan.

 

An engineer by training, Doko became president of Ishikawajima Heavy Industries in 1950 and helped turn around the struggling company. In 1960, it merged with Harima Shipbuilding to form Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries, today known as IHI, with Doko as its first president.

 

In 1965, he became president of Toshiba and again earned a reputation as a corporate turnaround leader.

 

His influence eventually went far beyond individual companies. From 1974 to 1980, Doko served as Chairman of Keidanren, representing Japan's business community.

 

Then, at age 84, he accepted perhaps his greatest challenge. In 1981, Doko became chairman of the Second Provisional Commission for Administrative Reform. Under his leadership, the commission called for fiscal discipline and major reforms of Japan's government-owned enterprises.

 

Those recommendations helped pave the way for transforming Japan National Railways into JR, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation into NTT, and the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation into JT.

 

Yet Doko lived remarkably simply in an old, modest three-room home, ate simple meals, and avoided luxury.

 

He rebuilt companies, led Japan's business community, and helped reform the nation.

 

His philosophy was reflected in his own life:

 

“A rich society, a simple personal life.”