Yoshishige Ashihara | Today's AI Wiki

1. Early Life and Education

Yoshishige Ashihara was born on March 4, 1901, in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. He attended Takamatsu Junior High School and then the former Sixth Higher School. In March 1924, he completed his academic journey, graduating from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at Kyoto Imperial University (now Kyoto University).

2. Career Beginnings

Following his graduation, Ashihara embarked on his professional career in 1924, joining Hanshin Express Electric Railway (阪神急行電鉄_{Hanshin Kyūkō Dentetsu}^Japanese), a company that is now part of Hankyu Corporation. His career path saw a significant shift in 1942 when, due to the nationalization and reorganization of the power distribution industry, he was transferred to Kansai Haiden (関西配電_{Kansai Haiden}^Japanese), a predecessor of Kansai Electric Power. At Kansai Haiden, he was appointed as the head of the Electrical Affairs Section within the Engineering Department. His ascent within the company continued, leading to his appointment as Managing Director in 1946 and subsequently as Vice President in 1950.

3. Leadership at Kansai Electric Power

Yoshishige Ashihara's leadership at Kansai Electric Power marked a transformative period for the company, characterized by aggressive growth strategies, technological innovation, and a distinct management philosophy that earned him both acclaim and criticism.

3.1. The "Restorer of Kansai Electric Power"

In 1951, with the reorganization of the electricity business, Ashihara became a Managing Director of the newly formed Kansai Electric Power Company. He assumed the presidency in 1959, succeeding Shiro Otagaki. During his tenure, he was widely recognized as the "restorer of Kansai Electric Power" (関電中興の祖_{Kanden Chūkō no So}^Japanese) and a "doyen of the Kansai business community" (関西財界の重鎮_{Kansai Zaikai no Jūchin}^Japanese). His strategic vision was instrumental in the company's significant expansion and modernization efforts, which included major power source developments such as the Kurobe River project.

3.2. Energy Policy and Technological Advancement

Ashihara was a key proponent of introducing nuclear power to Japan at an early stage. Recognizing the challenges posed by pollution and environmental degradation that made it difficult to secure public consensus for new power plant locations, he actively engaged with central government and financial circles. He championed stronger government policies to promote power source development and worked to build national consensus for nuclear energy. Beyond nuclear power, he pushed for the development and adoption of a wide range of innovative technologies, from power generation to distribution. He also modernized and streamlined the company's overall management and operational efficiency by promoting computerization in equipment operation and management. His proactive approach to energy policy and technological advancement significantly shaped Japan's energy landscape.

3.3. Public Service and External Roles

Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Ashihara held numerous influential public and external roles, demonstrating his broad engagement in societal and economic affairs. He served as a member of the Fiscal System Council and the Science and Technology Council. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Japan World Exposition Association. Within the business community, he held significant positions such as the Representative Director of the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives, Chairman of the Kansai Economic Federation, Chairman of the Japan Electric Association, and Chairman of the Public Advertising Organization (now AC Japan). Furthermore, he served as an external director for several prominent companies, including Hankyu Corporation, Nippon Life Insurance, and Osaka Gas, and acted as an advisor to the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper.

4. Influence and Controversies

Ashihara's career, while marked by significant industrial achievements, was also characterized by controversies that raised questions about corporate ethics, political influence, and governance.

4.1. Political Lobbying and Funding

During his time at Kansai Electric Power, Ashihara was implicated in allegations of extensive political lobbying and financial contributions to high-ranking government officials. In 2014, Naito Chimori, a former vice president of Kansai Electric Power who had served as Ashihara's secretary, testified in an interview with the Asahi Shimbun newspaper about these practices. According to Naito's testimony, Ashihara and Kansai Electric Power annually provided "donations" of approximately 20.00 M JPY to seven successive Japanese prime ministers: Kakuei Tanaka, Takeo Miki, Takeo Fukuda, Masayoshi Ohira, Zenko Suzuki, Yasuhiro Nakasone, and Noboru Takeshita. Furthermore, hundreds of millions of yen were allegedly distributed throughout the broader political landscape. Naito stated that the source of these funds was the electricity fees collected from the public, and the purpose of these payments was to facilitate political maneuvering aimed at promoting nuclear power policies and ensuring the company's growth. Kansai Electric Power officially denied knowledge of these allegations following Naito's public statements. These revelations highlighted concerns about the undue influence of corporations on policy-making and the potential misuse of public funds for private industrial promotion.

4.2. Management Style and the "Kansai Electric Power 2.26 Incident"

Ashihara's management style was frequently described as a "one-man rule" or even a "terror rule" within the company. This characterization gained public attention in 1986 when a series of articles titled "Corporate Exploration" (企業探検_{Kigyō Tanken}^Japanese) in the Asahi Journal (朝日ジャーナル_{Asahi Jānaru}^Japanese) specifically highlighted his autocratic leadership. The articles, written by then-professor Okumura Hiroshi, detailed the extent of Ashihara's centralized control. This exposé led to a significant outpouring of criticism both within and outside Kansai Electric Power. The culmination of this discontent was the "Kansai Electric Power 2.26 Incident" (関電二・二六事件_{Kanden Ni-niroku Jiken}^Japanese), which occurred on February 26, 1987. During a board meeting, a motion was put forth to dismiss Ashihara, who was then Honorary Chairman and Advisor, along with his close confidant and Vice President, Naito Chimori. The motion was spearheaded by Chairman Shoichiro Kobayashi, who had become concerned about Ashihara's perceived "privatization of management." Ashihara had held the top position at Kansai Electric Power for nearly 30 years since becoming president in 1959, and the then-president, Seiji Morii, was his son-in-law. The board's decision to dismiss Ashihara and Naito reflected a significant challenge to his long-standing authority and sparked broader discussions about corporate governance and the importance of democratic decision-making processes within large corporations.

5. Awards and Honors

Yoshishige Ashihara received several significant official awards and honors throughout his distinguished career, recognizing his contributions to industry and society:

1959: Medal with Blue Ribbon (藍綬褒章_{Ranju Hōshō}^Japanese)
1971: Order of the Sacred Treasure, Grand Cordon (勲一等瑞宝章_{Kun'ittō Zuihōshō}^Japanese)
1978: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (勲一等旭日大綬章_{Kun'ittō Kyokujitsu Daijushō}^Japanese)
1997: Golden Pheasant Award, the highest distinction of the Scout Association of Japan.

6. Legacy and Commemoration

Ashihara's lasting impact is reflected in various forms of commemoration. In 1993, the Ashihara Science Prize was established based on a donation he made, recognizing achievements in scientific research. His life and contributions were also portrayed in popular media, notably in the drama "Kurobe no Taiyo" (黒部の太陽_{Kurobe no Taiyō}^Japanese), where he was played by the actor Shiro Shimura. He also served as Honorary Chairman of Kansai Electric Power until 1998.

7. Death

Yoshishige Ashihara died on July 12, 2003, at the age of 102. The cause of his death was pneumonia.

8. Assessment

Yoshishige Ashihara's career represents a complex legacy, encompassing both significant contributions to Japan's industrial development and notable controversies that underscored critical issues in corporate ethics and governance.

8.1. Positive Contributions

Ashihara is widely acknowledged for his pivotal role in the post-war economic development of the Kansai region and Japan as a whole. As the "restorer of Kansai Electric Power" and a "doyen of the Kansai business community," he was instrumental in modernizing the company's infrastructure and management. His initiatives included the ambitious Kurobe River power development projects and the early, strategic introduction of nuclear power to meet Japan's growing energy demands. He also championed the adoption of innovative technologies across the power sector and implemented computerization to enhance operational efficiency. These efforts contributed significantly to the stable supply of electricity, which was a fundamental pillar of Japan's rapid economic growth during the Shōwa period.