Sazo Idemitsu

Entrepreneur. Born in Munakata County, Fukuoka Prefecture. Graduated from Kobe Higher Commercial School (the predecessor of Kobe University). After working at Sakai Shokai for about a year, he opened an oil retailer called Idemitsu Shokai in Moji, Fukuoka Prefecture in 1911 (Meiji 44) with financial support from Hita Jutaro, a wealthy man from Awaji Island. It was the predecessor of Idemitsu Kosan (established in 1940). After the Second World War, he led the company, which had lost its overseas business, and created a stir in the industry with its innovative management policy, as seen in the import of Iranian oil in 1953 (Showa 28), while also expanding the company into the oil refining and petrochemical sectors. He advocated a unique management style of not publicly listed stock and relying on bank loans, and a management philosophy based on Japanese harmony and respect for humanity. He was also famous for collecting art, including calligraphy and paintings by Zen master Sengai, and founded the Idemitsu Museum of Arts in Tokyo.

[Hidemasa Morikawa]

“Fifty Years of Respect for Humanity” by Sazo Idemitsu (1962, Shunjusha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

企業家。福岡県宗像(むなかた)郡に生まれる。神戸高等商業（神戸大学の前身）を卒業。酒井商会に約1年間勤務したのち、淡路島の資産家日田重太郎の資金援助によって1911年（明治44）福岡県門司(もじ)に石油販売店出光商会を開業した。出光興産（1940年設立）の前身である。第二次世界大戦後、海外事業を失った同社を率い、53年（昭和28）のイラン石油輸入にみられる斬新(ざんしん)な経営方針により業界に風雲を巻き起こす一方、同社を石油精製、石油化学部門に進出させた。株式非公開と銀行借入依存のユニークな経営方式、日本的和と人間尊重を基調とする経営理念の唱道に努めた。仙厓(せんがい)禅師の書画をはじめ美術品収集でも著名であり、東京に出光美術館を設立した。

［森川英正］

『出光佐三著『人間尊重五十年』（1962・春秋社）』

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