Japan - Culture

Yoshiro NakamatsuJune 26, 1928-Present

1IntroductionWhat is your name and profession?My formal name is Yoshiro Nakamatsu but everyone calls me Dr. NakaMats. I am a famous Japanese Inventor who holds the world record for number of inventions with 3,218 inventions.

Dr. Nakamats explaining his inventions. Photo from pingmag.jp2IntroductionPlease list significant contributions you have made?Some of my inventions include:PyonPyon spring shoesBasic Technology for Floppy Disk, CD and DVDThe Digital WatchCinemaScopeCerebrex ArmchairSauce PumpTaxicab MeterLicensed 16 patents to IBMNobel Prize for Nutrition

The World Famous 50 year old invention the floppy disk. Photo from pingmag.jp3IntroductionIf you really want entertainment listen to these 2 Dr. NakaMats music hits!!Using your mouse, right click and select Open Hyperlink

Dr.NakaMats song!

If you want to see a informative yet funny interview (just over 6 minutes) see below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjuyqjXbHKw

4Cultural ValuesHow important were your Family and personal life to your success and well being?

My mother was very important to my success. She taught me physics, chemistry, English, Japanese and humor starting from the age of 3. How do you want to be remembered?

I want to be remembered as the most famous inventor and nutritionist who lived to the age of 144.

Inventing at the age of 5. Photo by pingmag.jp5Cultural ValuesWhat are your motivational drivers?

I always tell young inventors to forget about the money and create ideas out of love for benefiting mankind. Love is the mother of invention.

Why do you think you were so popular with the general Japanese society?

My popularity is a result of my spirit of creativity. The Japanese people are inspired by my inventions.

PyonPyon Spring Shoes demonstrated by 78 year old Dr. Nakamats in 2006.also creative spirit. Photo by pingmag.jp6InnovationAs a famous inventor you are obviously very innovative. How do you come up with so many inventions?

Usually, inventors only think. I dont consider that to be perfect. Inventors should have the capability to produce and distribute their products so that users can benefit from their thought process. My principles are theory, flash (trigger) and production. The idea alone does not count as an invention.

Simply dive and remain under the surface until you experience a flash of creativity (about 0.5 seconds before death). Now quickly remember to write it down on a Dr.NakaMats waterproof plexiglas pad.

The Dr. in a pool, under water, Writing down the results from a flash of creativity (photo from pingmag.jp)7InnovationPlease explain more, how do you come up with so many inventions?

The base for everything is a strong spirit, followed by a strong body, hard studies, experience and finally leads to a trigger experience. You trigger a bullet which contains spirit, body, study and experience - and finally that releases the actual invention.

Another possible method is to use a completely calm room - that could even be my golden toilet which shuts out every noise and every magnetic and electronic field. Such a calm room erases all noise from your brain, you can concentrate and think.

Model for Creating an Invention (Photo by pingmag.jp)

Nice bathroom Dr. Nakamats!(Photo by pingmag.jp)8PlanningWhat role did planning play in your career success and why is it important?Planning is crucial. You have to have a plan. I have a plan to live to 144 years old and make 6,000 inventions. In order to achieve these goals I have to have the best brain food and fitness lifestyle. Every day I live by this plan. I have recorded every meal I have eaten for 35 years. In order to achieve my plan, I cannot sleep more than 4 hours per day and I must take 2 20 minute naps in the Cerebrex Chair. It improves memory, math skills and creativity. It also lowers blood pressure, improves eyesight and cures other ailments.

Cerebrex Chair (Photo by whatagreatidea.com)

Twice a day I take twenty-minute naps in a special chair Ive designedthe Cerebrex chair. It improves memory, math skills, and creativity, and it can lower blood pressure, improve eyesight, and cure other ailments. Special sound frequencies pulse from footrest to headrest, stimulating blood circulation and increasing synaptic activity in the brain. Twenty minutes in my chair refreshes the brain as much as eight hours of sleep.9Use of TechnologyWhy is technology important and how would or did you use it strategically?New technologies creates strategic advantage to first movers. I think that time and freedom are important to develop your best ideas in business. So in order to allow time for development of new technologies, need to free up time to create freedom to think. This can be accomplished through the use of technology to make the job easier and less time consuming. Besides this reason, the use of innovative technologies is exciting!

Enerex Water Powered Engine could have future automotive applications.(Photo by pingmag.jp)10Use of TechnologyWhy is technology important and how would or did you use it strategically?In order to improve economic activities, new industries should be born that make new products. New inventions make new industries. Therefore, I think invention is a key for the future in Japan to recover from its present miserable situation. And I'm the only one who can create inventions to save Japan.

Japans Savior(Photo by japaninc.com)11Decision MakingWhat was your approach to decision making as a leader?In order to make the correct decision you must first seek to understand the current situation and the problem you are trying to solve. You must complete extensive research through detailed analysis and collection of all the relevant facts and then apply deep thinking. In order to reach the write conclusion, you must free your mind of all preconceived notions and make the decision based upon scientific evidence and facts.

12LeadershipHow would you define your leadership style?Its crucial to be able to find the time and the freedom to develop your ideas. In my ideal leadership position I would cultivate an environment that would spark creativity. The work environment would be comforting and light hearted with a little bit of humor mixed into each day. The work environment would be one of self direction and freedom of the individual employee.

The entrance to his house and laboratory is in the shape of a giant floppy disk. (Photo by pingmag.jp)13Risk ToleranceHow would you describe yourself from a risk taking standpoint (risk averse, risk neutral or risk taker) and why?I would describe myself as risk neutral. In order to make great inventions you must take some risks but only after thorough investigation and deep thinking. All of my inventions are successful because of this approach. 14LoyaltyHow would you define loyalty from a co-worker, colleague or family member perspective? Why is it important?Loyalty is very important when it comes to family. My families commitment to my intellectual development has resulted in my lifetime of loyalty and gratitude towards them.

15Workplace InterrelationshipsWhat was your strategic approach to developing allies?

I am an individual contributor to society. I developed allies through my ability to provide innovative solutions that society needs. IBM was my most important ally in business. We worked together to patent 16 of my inventions.Is teamwork important in politics like it is for business?

Teamwork is important for sharing ideas. Communication is the key to success of a team and conformity and group think are great tools for success. In our society the power of a team is much greater than the contributions of an individual. As an individual contributor to science and technology, I am probably not representative of the culture in Japan from a teamwork perspective.16Interview ReferencesThis interview is fictional and responses are a composite of ideas derived from the multiple sources listed below, except where cited in the text.Hornyak, Tim. (2002, January). Dr. NakaMats: Japan's Self-Proclaimed Savior. Japan Inc, Retrieved from http://www.japaninc.com/article.php?articleID=653

(n.d.). Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved (2009, October 11) from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki//Yoshiro Nakamatsu

Thompson, Chic. (2006). The Edison of Japan. Whatagreatidea.com Books, Retrieved from http://www.whatagreatidea.com/nakamatsu.htm

Uleshka. (2006, October 20). Twilight Zone:Dr. NakaMats' Inventions. pingmag, Retrieved from http://pingmag.jp/2006/10/20/twilight-zone-dr-nakamats-inventions/ .17Photo ReferencesImages were used from the following sources:Hornyak, Tim. (2002, January). Dr. NakaMats: Japan's Self-Proclaimed Savior. Japan Inc, Retrieved from http://www.japaninc.com/article.php?articleID=653

Uleshka. (2006, October 20). Twilight Zone:Dr. NakaMats' Inventions. pingmag, Retrieved from http://pingmag.jp/2006/10/20/twilight-zone-dr-nakamats-inventions/ .18