Human touch helped to save JAL

When Japan Airlines declared bankruptcy in 2010, the government called on renowned businessman Kazuo Inamori to turn around the beleaguered carrier. Inamori, 81, founder of the high-tech manufacturing firm Kyocera Corp. and the telecommunications company that became KDDI Corp., has a compassionate management philosophy: “What is the right thing to do as a human being?’’ Now chairman emeritus of Japan Airlines, Inamori spoke through an interpreter to Globe reporter Katie Johnston as the carrier geared up to launch the first nonstop flight between Boston and Tokyo Sunday.

The Boston-Tokyo flight is the first US route to use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a fuel-efficient plane seen as a tool to open new global routes. Boston is also JAL’s first new North American route in 13 years. Why did you pick Boston?

In Boston, there are many academic centers, universities, colleges, and also the research institutes, and many corporate entities. There are many customers who wanted to visit Boston from Japan directly, and in the past they had the inconvenience because there were no direct flights.

You took over as chairman after Japan Airlines declared bankruptcy. What happened?

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The organization became too bureaucratic, and ended up with too much rigidity. And when it comes to the services provided, none of them were satisfactory to customers. At the same time, there was no understanding of what the business is. Management had no worries because in difficult times, government will always assist them with the public loan.

Did you have any aviation experience?

Not at all.

But it seems to have worked.

I thought as long as I knew the essential element for business management, it might be possible to inject that knowledge into this organization. I didn’t have confidence at the beginning, and the government asked me strongly to take this assignment. I refused many times, but in the end it was too difficult to refuse.

You’re a busy guy, advising several companies and teaching your management philosophy. Aren’t you tempted to kick back and take it easy?

Yes, I am tempted to relax. I committed to the government that I will take this assignment for only three years. My wife is very much worried about my health. Since I made a commitment, I will work until March. After that, I would like to relax.

Your wife will be happy when that happens.

If I stay at home all the time, my wife’s feelings might change.

The airline’s new president was a pilot until the bankruptcy. How will his lack of management experience affect the company?

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He’s a very decent person, and a very excellent and smart, hard-working person. Anybody who does the hard work is something that is very much valuable. The second thing is that he has very good character as a human being. He’s fair, he’s gentle, warm, and caring of other people. In taking leadership, character is very important. Otherwise nobody will follow.

In the United States, the words gentle, warm, and caring are not often used to describe executives.

Right. In the United States, usually the ability of the person is the most important thing. However, we have to have the basic element of integrity of character. If something went wrong, and even though an executive has high professional ability, you could find many examples that without integrity, companies might fall into critical difficulties.

You’re known as a leader in business ethics. Can you describe your philosophy?

We have to generate a profit. That is the grand mission from the beginning. However, that does not mean simultaneously that we can do whatever we want. We should care for others. In capitalism, greediness is sometimes regarded as a good thing. However, if we rely too much on that, I think society will collapse.

In 1997 you entered the Buddhist priesthood. How does that play into your business dealings?

I tried to learn what Buddha had said as a teaching, and that means to love other people. In one word, mercifulness. And I try to implement that into secular business activities. It’s sort of a strange experience but after I did the priesthood, everything started to go smoothly. I don’t know how you can call it: heaven, or God. I think there was something else supporting me. I don’t think my ability is the only reason for my success.