Ohno’s Waka about Kaizen spirit. How to translate? This is probably the most complicated Japanese. There are many ways to interpret the words.
This is how we read or pronounce.
Kakusureba-Kakunarumonoto-Wakarinaba-Yamuniyamarenu-Kaizen-Sprit.
The most complicated word is “Kaku.” It is not clear what it means.
Based on the original version, we can estimate as “plan” or “foresee.”
“I knew when I planned this, I know how things will go. I can’t stop doing it. Kaizen Spirits.”
Another way to read is;
“I know if I Kaizen, I know how things go. I can’t stop my Kaizen spirits.”
There are other ways to interpret this.
“Kaku 【斯く】” means to;
Consider the current situation as your own situation. 「かくいう私だ。 “I am the person.”」
The situation is urgent. 「かくなる上はやむをえない。 “In this situation, it is unavoidable.」
“This is urgent. I must own. I will not stop doing Kaizen spirits.”
I probably won't get an “F” for translating like this.
However, this post will focus on the selection of this poem. Why did Ohno pick a song by Shoin Yoshida?
Shoin Yoshida is a significant person in Japanese history.
He was born in 1830 and died in 1859 at age 29. At age five, he was adopted by the Yoshida family. At age six, his adopted father died. The Yoshida family taught military science in the Choshu domain, the local samurai government. The local government could terminate the Yoshida family if Yoshida did not develop quickly. At age nine, he became a teacher. At age eleven, he held the lecture to the lord, which means that he was now certified. He could have stopped there, but he didn’t. He starts studying the competing military science. By age fifteen, he concluded that Japanese military science was outdated. He travels to Nagasaki to learn from the Dutch. He also started traveling around Japan to learn more. When he was 23, Matthew Calbraith Perry arrived in Japan. Yoshida tried to travel to the United States but was rejected. Because of this act, he was imprisoned. While in prison or locked up, he started his school. In 1857, this school became the Shōkasonjuku Academy. In 1859, Yoshida was beheaded because of his link to a guy who was thinking about overthrowing the Tokugawa Shogun.
Yoshida is important because less than fifty students of the Shōkasonjuku Academy started the revolution to end the Tokugawa Shogun and started the Meiji Restoration.
So, what are the similarities?
Action is more important than words.
One of Yoshida's philosophies was influenced by Yangmingism, a branch of Confucianism. They discussed the importance of matching actions and words. The Japanese started to misunderstand (as always) and said action was more important than words. Yoshida knew the consequences of his actions, yet acting according to the philosophy was necessary.
Ohno was a man of action. He was always on the genba to Kaizen.
2. Rebel
Rebels in Japan favored Yangmingism. They led the revolution from the Shogun to modern Japan. The Cheng–Zhu school, the majority of Confucianism at that time in Japan, focused on protecting and following the current system. On the other hand, Yangmingism believed that everyone in town could be saints if they performed good heart.
Ohno rebelled against traditional manufacturing.
3. Teacher of action
Yoshida's contribution comes from the actions of his students. This body of students led the revolution. The foundation was made, although they were only taught for a few years. There were many differences among the students, but they acted for sure.
Ohno developed many peers. This is the reason why they were able to improve the supply chain.
Last but not least, Taiichi Ohno’s grandfather lived in the same era as Yoshida. He and his brother were high-ranking officials of Mikawa, yet they supported the rebels. Some of the Ohno brothers' samurai joined Yoshida’s students, and because of that, one was imprisoned. After the revolution, they led the modernization of the Kariya, a city in Mikawa.