Good Risks: Discovering the Secrets to ORIX's 50 Years of Success

Epilogue

First of all, I want to say that I am delighted to have an opportunity to contribute to a book about ORIX in English. I was not aware that Mr. Russell was writing this book until fairly late in the game. After I met him and talked with him on a couple of occasions, he suggested that perhaps I might add a few personal words at the end of his book. I hastened to point out that I am not a professional writer, but he insisted that even a short piece by me would add to the authenticity of any story about the company, so I happily agreed.

My first comment on this book is one that I made to Mr. Russell directly, but which seems not to have made much of an impression on him. That is, this story (which does accurately tell much of the history of ORIX and the ORIX Group) focuses too much on the influence of one person: me. I was extremely pleased to see a proper discussion of Tsuneo Inui, our second CEO and later honorary chairman. Mr. Inui, more than any other individual, was instrumental in forming what we now think of as “the ORIX Way.” However, in one way or another, the entire remainder of the story refers back to me, both as a founder of the company and as the driving force behind its growth. The author goes so far as to say, “the company’s DNA is really his DNA,” which is certainly an overstatement.

Although I am naturally flattered, the fact is that ORIX is not and never has been a one-man company. I doubt it would have succeeded in the way it has if that had been the ...