After graduating with a law degree from the University of Tokyo in 1953, he went to work at the Bank of Tokyo (now MUFG Bank). In 1964 he established Ushio Inc. with the goal of making it a global medium-sized enterprise. After becoming president of the company, he led efforts to tackle numerous social challenges and contributed to technological innovation in the world through the innovative use of light, not only as for illumination, but also as energy.
In 1994, he set up the the Ushio Foundation with the aim of contributing to human resource development and academic advancement, and offered scholarship and other financial assistance to students.
Since his early days as a young executive, Jiro has contributed to the collaboration among politics, government, business, and academia in Japan, serving as an expert member of the Second Provisional Commission for Administrative Reform, a representative organizer of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, a member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (Cabinet Office), and chairman of the Japan Productivity Center and the Nippon Institute for Research Advancement (NIRA).
Ushio Inc. was established in 1964. The following year, the Company formulated its “Four Basic Principles” to direct its aspiration “to grow through the wisdom of all its employees and become a vital part of their lives.”
These principles have continued to resonate as signposts guiding the Company forward through its subsequent history. With the addition of an item to define our “corporate social responsibility,” these same principles have become our current management philosophy and continue to serve as the foundation of all of our activities.
Build both a prosperous Company and prosperous employees.
Deliver products and services that are competitive in the global market.
Contribute to society through superior products and innovative research and development.
Show the world the true value of a medium-sized enterprise and, in doing so, secure stable profits.
While physically delicate in his childhood, Jiro builds up his strength in contact with a natural seaside environment and learns a lot from nature.
Age0
Showa 6
Born on February 12.
Age3
Showa 9
His grandfather passes away.
His father takes over the business.
Age6
Showa 12
Starts school at Himeji Joson Tatsumi Elementary School.
Age8
Showa 14
His family relocates to Maiko, Kobe City.
Transfers to elementary school affiliated with Akashi Women’s Normal School.
Enrolls in the Medical Science Course at the No. 3 High School (Daisan Koto Gakko), Jiro comes to think of learning politics to change society and goes on to the Department of Politics, Faculty of Law, at the University of Tokyo. Later, he takes a job at the Bank of Tokyo (now MUFG Bank).
Age12
Showa 18
Enters Hyogo Prefecture No.3 Kobe Middle School.
Age14
Showa 20
Ushio and his fellow students are mobilized to work at Mitsubishi Electric’s Kobe Plant.
Age15
Showa 21
His father becomes a founding member of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives, and the Kobe Association of Corporate Executives, and his father was appointed as secretary of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives and Chairman of the Kobe Association of Corporate Executives.
Age17
Showa 23
Enrolls in the Medical Science Course at the No. 3 High School (Daisan Koto Gakko).
Studies the existentialism of Sartre, etc.
Age18
Showa 24
Enteres the inaugural class in the Faculty of Law of the newly reorganized University of Tokyo.
Jiro studies abroad at the University of California. The spirit of the United States and its democracy greatly influences him. After that, he takes over the family business, Ushio Kogyo, upon his father’s passing. The company develops and sells xenon lamps, which contributes to the movies’ transition from black and white to color in earnest.
Age22
Showa 28
Joines the Bank of Tokyo.
Recuperates from pulmonary infiltration.
Age25
Showa 31
Enrolls at the University of California.
Age26
Showa 32
Returns to Japan.
Joins the Kobe Bank, working for the Tokyo Foreign Affairs Department.
Marries and settles in Tokyo.
Age27
Showa 33
His father passes away.
Age28
Showa 34
Leaves Kobe Bank. Joins Ushio Industrial, Inc.
Joins the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Ushio Industries’ electrical division is spun off to form Ushio Inc. Jiro aim to make Ushio a global medium-sized enterprise, under the business policy of “using light as illumination and as energy.” In 1969, he is appointed as the President of Junior Chamber International(JCI) Japan. In the next year, Ushio Inc. is listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) with exceptional speed.
Age29
Showa 35
Joins Junior Chamber International Tokyo.
Serves as secretary to its president, Rokuro Ishikawa.
Age30
Showa 36
Visits the Philippines for the Junior Chamber International Tokyo’s Asia and the Pacific Conference.
Age33
Showa 39
Establishes Ushio Inc.
Age34
Showa 40
The Four Basic Principles are instituted.
Age35
Showa 41
Establishes Xebex, Inc.
Age36
Showa 42
Appointed as President of Junior Chamber International Tokyo.
Appointed as Executive Director of Junior Chamber International Japan.
Age37
Showa 43
Appointed as Vice President of Junior Chamber International Japan.
Age38
Showa 44
Appointed as President of Junior Chamber International Japan.
Establishes Institute for Social Engineering.
Following the oil shock, he switches to organizational management of his business. In 1979, Jiro is appointed as Chairman and CEO of Ushio Inc. He consequently becomes devoted to the business community through the activities of JCI Japan and Japan Association of Corporate Executives, and even contributed to the realization of the “Expo 85” International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan, 1985.
Age39
Showa 45
The Junior Chamber International Japan’s Declaration is adopted.
Age40
Showa 46
Appointed as secretary of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Age41
Showa 47
Sent as a cultural delegate to Southeast Asia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Graduates from Junior Chamber International Japan.
Age44
Showa 50
Appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Social Development Committee, Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Age45
Showa 51
Takes part in forming the New Liberal Club at policy level.
Age46
Showa 52
The Italian Design Association is created.
Appointed as Chairman.
Age47
Showa 53
Asked to run for Governor of Tokyo.
Age48
Showa 54
Withdraws his candidacy for Governor of Tokyo.
Participates in Prime Minister Ohira’s policy advisory group.
Appointed as Chairman and CEO of Ushio Inc.
Appointed as member of the Basic Concept Committee, the International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan.
The Matsushita Institute of Government and Management is established. Appointed as Vice-Chairman.
He is appointed as an expert member of the Second Extraordinary Administrative Research Council, otherwise known as the Doko Rincho, to promote administrative reform. The Doko Rincho accomplishes the privatization of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation, the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation, and the Japanese National Railways, which leads Jiro to establish the DDI Corporation (now KDDI), where he is appointed as Director. As Chairman of International University of Japan, his work also extends to developing professional human resources who possess a global standpoint and international competitiveness.
Age49
Showa 55
Appointed as a member of the planning committee of the Council to Promote the International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan.
Age50
Showa 56
Appointed as an expert member of the Second Extraordinary Administrative Research Council.
Appointed as Vice-Chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Publishes a book entitled “The Principles of Conduct for Young Standard-bearers”.
Age52
Showa 58
Publishes the final report of the Second Extraordinary Administrative Research Council.
Appointed as Vice-Chairman of the International University of Japan.
Age53
Showa 59
Appointed as a Director at Daini-Denden(DDI).
Age54
Showa 60
The International Exposition, Tsukuba, Japan is held.
Appointed as a member of the Government Tax Commission (Cabinet Office).
Age56
Showa 62
Appointed as Chairman of the International University of Japan.
He establishes the Ushio Foundation to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Ushio Inc., funding its endowment by donations from Jiro himself and from Ushio Inc. With the aim of contributing to human resource development and academic advancement, the foundation offers scholarship and other financial assistance to students. It supports many hundreds of students. In 1995, he is appointed as Chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Age59
Heisei 2
The Okinawa Round Table is created. Appointed as Chairman for the Mainland representatives.
Age63
Heisei 6
Establishes the Ushio Foundation using half of his holdings.
Age64
Heisei 7
Appointed as Chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Age65
Heisei 8
Establishes Nippon Venture Capital. Appointed as Chairman.
Age66
Heisei 9
The Japan Association of Corporate Executives announces its Manifest for a Market-Oriented Economy.
Age68
Heisei 11
Appointed as a Special Advisor (Secretary for Life) to the Japan Association of Corporate Executives.
Appointed as a Director at Hotel Okura.
He contributes to the cooperation between the political and the corporate, through his positions as a private-sector member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy (Cabinet Office) and Chairman of the Strategic Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-oriented Country. He uses his influence to evolve liberal deregulation, as well as administrative and financial reform, based on the principles of the capitalist market economy.
Age69
Heisei 12
Appointed as Chairman of the Board at KDDI Corporation.
Age70
Heisei 13
Appointed as a private-sector member of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, Cabinet Office.
Age72
Heisei 15
Appointed as Chairman of the Japan Productivity Center for Socio-economic Development (now the Japan Productivity Center).
Appointed as a Director at KDDI Corporation.
Age73
Heisei 16
Appointed as Chairman of the Strategic Council on the Promotion of Japan as a Tourism-oriented Country.
Age75
Heisei 18
Appointed as an outside director of Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd.
Age76
Heisei 19
Appointed as Chairman of the National Institute for Research Advancement (now the Nippon Institute for Research Advancement).
Jiro continues to act as a hub for the collaboration among politics, government, business, and academia in Japan, and makes recommendations to solve problems facing Japan and the world.
Age81
Heisei 24
Creates JAPAN AKADEMEIA. Appointed as full-time President.
Age83
Heisei 26
Appointed as Honorary Chairman of the Japan Productivity Center.
In 2020, he retires from his position at Ushio Inc. as the Chairman and CEO and becomes its Honorary Advisor. Jiro goes to his final rest on June 13, 2023, at the age of 92.
Age89
Reiwa 2
Appointed as Director and Corporate Advisor to Ushio Inc.
Appointed as an Honorary Advisor to Ushio Inc.
Age92
Reiwa 5
Passes away at the age of 92 on June 13.
The Ushio Foundation was established in March 1994 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the founding of Ushio Inc. The foundation’s launch was funded by donations from the founder Jiro Ushio and from Ushio Inc. With the aim of contributing to human resource development and academic advancement, the foundation offers scholarship and other financial assistance to students.
Jiro Ushio always reminded scholarship recipients, “You don’t have to repay this scholarship. Take advantage of the scholarship to learn and experience as much as possible, then use that for the benefit of society. That is how you can repay the scholarship. I sincerely hope that you will serve as a bridge between Japan and the world, and play an active role on the world stage.”
1981
PHP Institute, Inc.
2003
Chichi Shuppansha
2010
Chichi Shuppansha
2017
Chichi Shuppansha
