===What the Japanese Bayberry Trees Have Seen===
The following letter at the end of this series of entries was written by the author in June, of 1978 to new Yamaha Motor employees in their second month at the company. The atmosphere of Yamaha Motor at the time shows through his words.
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In Response to Your Comments at the Welcoming Ceremony
Tomo Sugiyama, Director and Cost Planning Office Chief
Hello to all you new members of Yamaha Motor. I believe some two months have passed since you started working or training, and I’m sure you are taking to your tasks with fervor and resolve. On April 1st, the day you officially joined the company, I spoke with you for about two hours. I read with great interest every one of the responses you so kindly sent to me.
In spite of the auditorium being cold and the poor acoustics, I was very impressed that you listened so attentively, at your passion for Yamaha, your work ethic, and your youthful enthusiasm.
In fact, many of your letters taught me something in return, and caused me to reflect on my own views and ways of doing things. Although the purpose of my talk was just to share my experiences and not to demand that you “work hard” or “do your best,” your letters were filled with strong-willed phrases like, “I’m going to do everything I can,” and “Yamaha’s future is in good hands with us.”
The strong yen has made for a difficult business environment for Yamaha. But seeing and knowing first-hand that so many young people filled with energy and optimism are joining the company fills me with relief and delight.
Nurture the passion and spirit of your youth that you have now; never let it waver. Remember that adversity is the best teacher and don’t give in to struggles. Let’s work together to make Yamaha grow and prosper into the future.
To those of you involved in product design and testing, remember that performance isn’t everything. The end-product must also be easy to produce in the factory and easy for the markets to accept.
For you all working in the factory, strive to produce high-quality products at a low cost that can withstand the rigors of use in markets all over the world.
And to those of you in sales, your tasks are to get as many people as possible to choose the high-quality products our factories create, and to be the pipeline for bringing the unfiltered voices of our customers back to the company.
I believe that you all create the foundation of the company’s future by carrying out your individual responsibilities. Be sure to take good care of your health, because work you are not yet accustomed to will sometimes be very demanding, both physically and mentally. Write new pages in Yamaha history as well as your own. And if the time comes when there is something you feel you need to say, please don’t hesitate to write me. I look forward to following your progress.
Photo: Sugiyama-san in 1980