Hosomichi Library

This is a brief introduction to just some of the books that have shaped our thinking about business, culture and Japan

Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack & the Japanese Psyche

By Haruki Murakami

One of Haruki Murakami's rare non-fiction works. He explores how disillusionment with Japan's cult of work, predominant until the bursting of the bubble , led young people from the top universities to cast aside their families and join a doomsday cult. When people become unmoored from a purpose, the results may be unforeseeable and tragic.

Sam Walton: Made In America

By Sam Walton

The story of the greatest retailer the world has ever known. Sam wrote the book while he was dying of cancer, doing one last good deed for the world instead of indulging in some well-deserved rest & recreation.

The most memorable scenes from the book are from Walton family vacations, which turned into store visit road trips that allowed Sam to visit and study as many competitor retail locations as possible and sponge up any hints he could.

There are no patents in retailing, it is a cutthroat business where everyone steals from everyone, and you always have to be running at top speed to maintain your position. Sam showed us all how it is done.

Let My People Go Surfing

By Yvon Chouinard

Chouinard was a dirtbagger, living out of vans and working just enough to rock climb as much as humanly possible. He started making tools like crampons and removable bolts for other climbers.

Thus Patagonia was born.

But Patagonia would not be an ordinary company. It is a place where people work to live, rather than live to work. That focus on the realization of personal goals helped create a powerful work culture full of motivated employees and equally loyal customers.

It is a singular study of how a company can be run both for profit and for people.