When I was in charge of the North American group, everything was at its worst.
At that time, the name of the Second Export Division was changed to the Third International Division.
The reason is that Toshiba was seriously trying to start international operations.
Therefore, a lot of talented people with international business experience were gathered.
The 1st International Business Division was in charge of the electronics and home appliances business, the 2nd International Business Division was in charge of the heavy electric business, and the 3rd International Business Division was in charge of the industrial electronics business.
Toshiba thought that it would not be possible to survive without raising the export ratio to 30-50%, so it changed its policy to separate international operations from the manufacturing division.
The general managers of the International Business Division frequently went abroad to inform the expatriates of their future business policies.
On the other hand, many expatriates were probably in an era when they didn’t know what to do. ”
At that time, expatriates were originally from the Manufacturing Division, so it was the traditional style that many instructions came from the Manufacturing Division instead of the International Division.
However, the instructions from the International Department were often different from those from the Manufacturing Division.
Exactly the same thing happened in the medical division.
At that time, Mr. Murao, General Manager of the Third International Business Division, was from a trading company and had a completely different idea from the people at Toshiba.
For example, Mr. Murao insisted that a local corporation was absolutely necessary for overseas operations. However, the idea up to that point was to first find a distributor and raise them. The method was solid, but it was a really time-consuming idea. It was just a fumbling operation.
One day, the story of the RSNA exhibition of the Radiological Society of North America became a hot topic. Mr. Murao, who came from a trading company, asked our manager, Mr. Togashi, what was going on. However, Mr. Togashi was just new and did not understand the situation well. Therefore, the chief of the North American section replied that TAI was actually preparing all the exhibition plans.
Immediately after that, Mr. Murao said.
“Mr. Nishida, call Dentsu and let them design the exhibition. And tell TAI that RSNA’s exhibition will be designed by Tokyo from this year.”
Mr. Nishida who came out here is the person who later became the president of Toshiba.
At that time, he was the chief of the planning department. I think I’m in my thirties at this time.
I heard that Mr. Nishida was interested in the oil business in the Middle East while he was a student at the University of Tokyo, and when he was traveling to Middle Eastern countries, he was recognized by the then Vice President of Toshiba and joined Toshiba.
He was probably 31 at the time. When joining Toshiba, start from the section chief. Generally, an early person becomes a section chief at the age of 35, so he is treated as a special case.
He was in the planning department. When the manager of each sales department gave a presentation, he quickly asked a tough question.
Listening on his side, I was thrilled.
Therefore, there were many enemies in the company. But he pointed out the problem calmly. He was kind to us young people and listened to our opinions.
A few days later, Nishida called Dentsu and ordered him to make a booth design.
Dentsu brought the ideas together a month and a half later.
I was called by Mr. Nishida. And I was told:
“Please go to TAI’s medical department and explain that we will hold an RSNA exhibition with this booth design this year.”
This trip was my second trip to North America.
My first business trip a year ago was at RSNA in Dallas, Texas.
At that time, it was my first time, and I remember that the Japanese expatriates did a good job.
But this time it was completely different.
I expected to be completely hostile even before I left Japan.
As soon as I entered the office and greeted No. 2 Hoshikawa in the TAI medical division, Hoshikawa told me:
“Sato-kun, are you the Otani faction or the Murao faction?” He asked.
In addition
“We are all from the medical division and will eventually return to the medical division. Are you from the international division?”
By the way, Otani was the general manager of the medical business division, and Murao was the general manager of the third international business division.
I listened to Hoshikawa’s story and replied:
“Mr. Hoshikawa, it doesn’t make any sense to tell me something like a religious faction. I brought this year’s RSNA booth design and came to convey my intentions in Tokyo. Just. If you don’t want to hear the story, I’ll be back tomorrow. ”
I just said, and left the office.
That night, Mr. Yoshida, a subordinate of Mr. Hoshikawa, came to the hotel and came to pick up dinner tonight because everyone was waiting.
I declined supper because I just didn’t feel like it.
When I was preparing to go back to Tokyo the next day, Yoshida came to pick me up.
I greeted him and went to the office in his car with the intention of returning to Tokyo.
Then, a mockup of the booth design I brought was placed on the desk in the conference room, and Mr. Hoshikawa said to the Japanese staff who attended.
“Mr. Sato brought the booth design, so please tell us what you think.”
I saw Mr. Hoshikawa’s disgusting side. After all, I thought he was scared of Tokyo. And I said.
“I already heard Mr. Hoshikawa’s intentions yesterday, so I don’t think it makes sense to have a meeting today. I’m leaving for Tokyo now.”
Then Mr. Hoshikawa said:
“Then, Mr. Sato’s business trip is meaningless and he is in a bad position. Let’s have a meeting.”
I refused.
He added that it would be fine if you could contact us via telex about TAI’s thinking.
Anyway, I thought Mr. Hoshikawa would report to Tokyo at his convenience.