Founder Stories
Founder Stories
The Life of Gonshiro Kubota
The founder’s DNA continues to this day
Thoughts and actions at 50 years from foundation
At a ceremony held in 1940 to mark 50 years of the company, the now 70-year- old Gonshiro gave a speech where he looked back on his life, in which he had always been passionate about manufacturing. He told the audience that “We must create products with our heart and soul, and ensure that commodity value in a proper sense is embodies in each of our products. ”
In addition, in connection with the 50-year anniversary, he donated 500,000 yen of his private funds and established the Kubota Welfare Association for the welfare of the employees. This offered a supply of daily essentials at a reduced price and low interest loans for ceremonial occasions and for when unexpected disasters struck. It was the basis for the new Kubota Welfare Association which was started after the war.
Reconstruction after the war and resigning from the post of Company President
The company suffered heavy damage in World War II, which included the destruction of plant equipment and its logistics system. The amount of production just after the war was about half what it had been at its peak, and the number of employees had fallen to about a tenth. Whilst continually being concerned about the safety of the employees, Gonshiro became determined to work toward post-war recovery, and gradually restarted production, firstly for casting and molds, then for machine tools and then iron pipes.
Furthermore, in 1947, the first farm cultivator was completed. They had to wait until the latter 1950s until the product really spread, but it meant that they had created a new pillar for the business after the war.
Considering these things, Gonshiro decided that the postwar reconstruction of the business would be a success, and announced his resignation from the post of Company President in February 1949. His eldest son Seiichi Kubota took over as the second Company President.
Living out his life as an inventor and a businessman
Gonshiro Kubota passed away on November 11, 1959, just before the company reached its 70th anniversary. He was 89 years old. Many years had passed since he had watched the boats coming and going out to sea from his birthplace, Ohama Village on Innoshima, and vowed to become a Western blacksmith. In the time since, he had gained 70 patents and over 150 utility models, and the sales volume at the 70th anniversary of the company in 1960 was 45.6 billion yen. Nobody could deny that he lived his life to the full as an inventor and a businessman.
Gonshiro had already been awarded the Dark Blue Ribbon Medal, the Green Ribbon Medal and the Blue Ribbon Medal, for the achievements he had made as he worked for the nation and for the people. After his death, he was also awarded the Senior Fifth Rank, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon.
The increasing importance of a challenging spirit
Gonshiro achieved breakthroughs in things thought to be impossible by the world at large, because if he thought it was for the development of the country, or to be useful in people’s lives, he never gave up. He continued to challenge himself, worked harder than anyone else and had an unyielding spirit. That DNA was continued as the DNA of Kubota, and after his death the company has continued its development of groundbreaking technologies, providing safety and peace of mind in fields indispensable to human life—food, water, and the environment.
Even now, our planet faces a number of issues that need to be solved. As a company that creates platforms that support life, and in order to create a sustainable earth, society and lifestyles, Kubota has taken the resolution of these issues as its mission, and is looking to the future as it works on developing new technologies..
Words of the founder
It has always been my mission to pour my heart and soul into creating products, and ensure that these products have true value for the customer. I have immersed myself in work with a firm conviction that it is one way in which I can contribute to the development of the nation.
This is an excerpt from Gonshiro’s speech at the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. It communicates clearly his attitude toward work—overcoming issues through conviction and effort, a deep-rooted belief in a hands-on approach, and a desire to contribute to people’s lives and solve social problems. It was at this time that Gonshiro went about building a welfare system for his employees. They were offered, among others, daily necessities at low prices, and low-interest loans for important family ceremonies and unexpected disasters. This was the basis for the Kubota Welfare Association, which was established later following the war. As we can see, Gonshiro was also passionate about his employees.
Words of the founder
The potential of the unknown is endless. To discover new frontiers, you must show dedication. To uncover new theories, you must input theories of your own. The resulting work will teach you more than just theory. Logic only comes later.
If you don’t try, you’ll never know. Gonshiro recommended instant action. He also said that coming up with an idea is only 20 to 30% of the process. The remaining 70 to 80% needed to bring that idea to fruition would require effort, as well as the courage to take the first step. He was also worried about higher education, warning that the narrow-mindedness and rigid thought processes it cultivated would hinder future developments. Gonshiro was a strong advocate of the hands-on approach at the worksite, which he believed nurtured both creativity and a flexible mindset, while he also had great respect for education that would bring about technological innovations. This multifaceted mindset of his would continue to be the catalyst for numerous inventions and business expansions.
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