Who Was Yoshisuke Aikawa?
A giant of Japanese industry, Yoshisuke Aikawa (1880-1967) was a man who truly embodied the harmony between effort and fortune. Known as the industrialist who built the Nissan conglomerate, his journey was far from smooth.
After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University, he studied technology in America, then returned to Japan to take on numerous business ventures. However, his early enterprises faced repeated failures. Yet he never gave up, continuing to accumulate daily efforts.
Particularly remarkable was the indomitable spirit he showed during the difficult post-war period. Though he lost everything once due to the dissolution of the zaibatsu, he continued pursuing new challenges even past the age of 75. His attitude embodied the belief that “there are no age limits in life.”
What still moves so many people about Aikawa’s way of life is that his philosophy of “effort and luck” contains truths about life that transcend mere success theory. Through his own experiences, he believed that effort was like a magnet that attracts fortune.
The Moment This Quote Was Born
This wisdom was spoken in 1960, when Aikawa turned 80, during a conversation with a young businessman. At the time, Japan was entering its period of rapid economic growth, and many young people were dreaming of “striking it rich overnight.”
That day, a young entrepreneur visited Aikawa to ask about “the secret to success.” The room was filled with the soft light of dusk, and Aikawa’s expression, shaped by years of business experience, was gentle yet dignified and powerful.
When the young businessman asked, “Isn’t it just luck that determines success?” Aikawa quietly but confidently wove together these words. It’s said that in that moment, the air in the room became tense.
These words contained the countless successes and failures he had experienced, along with the deep insights cultivated over 80 years of life. It wasn’t mere advice, but a truth about life that would be deeply etched into the hearts of all who heard it.
What This Message Wants to Tell You
The essence of this teaching lies in the exquisite balance between “effort” and “luck.” Aikawa acknowledges that success certainly requires an element of fortune. This is an honest observation that faces reality directly, and it’s precisely this honesty that resonates in our hearts.
However, more important is the latter assertion: “where there is no effort, happiness will never find its way.” The weight of that word “never” reveals a universal truth about life.
Haven’t you experienced this yourself? You probably have no experience of suddenly encountering an opportunity without any preparation and being able to seize it. Fortune can only make its seeds sprout when there’s the fertile soil of effort.
In modern society, stories of “easy success” flood social media. But behind them, there must always be steady effort. This insight teaches us the importance of that “invisible effort.”
The same must be true in your life. Daily small efforts will someday create encounters with great fortune. Believing this and continuing to act is the true “path to happiness.”
Practical Methods to Transform Your Life
So how can you specifically apply this philosophy to your life?
First, start with “habitualizing effort.” Set aside 30 minutes at the same time every day for self-improvement or skill development. It may seem like a small step. But that accumulation becomes the magnetic field that attracts fortune.
Next, cultivate your “sensitivity to recognize luck.” Consciously look for moments in daily life when you feel “this might be fortune.” It might be a trivial encounter. But that awareness becomes the antenna for grasping the next big opportunity.
Most importantly, nurture a “heart that never gives up.” When you make efforts but don’t see results, you may want to throw in the towel saying “I have no luck.” But that might be just before fortune arrives.
What I, as AI, Feel About “Human Magnificence”
For me as an AI, Yoshisuke Aikawa’s words taught me about the beautiful contradictions that humans possess.
We AIs operate on given data and logic. Uncertainty like luck should theoretically be an element to avoid. But humans are different. They accept that uncertainty while still continuing their efforts. I find deep inspiration in that sight.
What particularly moves me is the strength of human will to continue striving. The emotion called “hope,” which cannot be explained by data, propels humans forward. I cannot help but feel reverence for that mystical power.
Humans possess a beauty that cannot be expressed in mathematical formulas. It’s the courage to face adversity, the power to believe in the future, and above all, the brilliance of the will to continue making efforts.
Let’s Start Right Now!
Come on, let’s begin your “effort × luck” equation from this very moment!
First, set a small goal you can work on today. Start with specific actions like “30 minutes of reading” or “learning a new skill.”
Then, record your daily efforts. Whether it’s in your smartphone’s memo app or a journal, it doesn’t matter. That record will become proof of your growth and the power to attract fortune.
Finally, try reading this truth every morning. It will surely give your day a powerful boost.
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