December 2025 Part 3: Let's learn the secret to strengthening our organization from the "Imperial Rescript on Education"
Let's take a look at each of the twelve virtues in the Imperial Rescript on Education.
1. Filial piety: Be filial to your parents
The first virtue is to be filial to one's parents. Be sincere to your parents and show your gratitude and respect through your actions. The Imperial Rescript on Education states that filial piety is the first fundamental virtue of being human.
2. Friendship: Brothers and sisters should get along well
The second virtue is for siblings to get along well. Siblings getting along well strengthens the bonds within the family. Having good relationships with siblings is a great help when they become adults and enter society.
3. Harmony between husband and wife: Always maintain harmony between husband and wife.
The third virtue is for husband and wife to always be in harmony. If husband and wife always be in harmony, the atmosphere in the home will be bright and cheerful. By creating a bright atmosphere in the small organization called the home, people's hearts will become brighter and more positive.
4. Trust in Friends: Friends should trust each other and get along well.
The fourth virtue is to trust your friends. Deepening trusting relationships with friends leads to the strengthening of local communities and organizations. Always be open with your friends, respectful of each other, and trusting each other.
5. Humility: Be modest in your words and actions
The fifth virtue is to be modest in your words and actions. In order to avoid unnecessary conflict and discord with those around you, you should refrain from abusive language and arrogant attitudes and behavior. If you always strive to maintain a calm and gentle attitude, you will be able to maintain good relationships with those around you.
6. Philanthropy: Extend your love to everyone.
The sixth virtue is to have a broad and philanthropic spirit. If people within an organization hate each other and slander and abuse become rampant, the organization's unity will weaken. If people in an organization have a broad and philanthropic spirit, the organization's strength will increase.
7. Study and work: Study hard and acquire a career
The seventh virtue is to study and learn the job. The first six seem to focus on creating a positive atmosphere within the organization and improving interpersonal relationships, and this one emphasizes the importance of academic study and vocational training. By studying well and mastering one's job, one can contribute to the development of the organization.
8. Intelligence Development: Cultivate knowledge and develop talents
The eighth virtue is to develop knowledge and talent. Even after graduating from school and completing vocational training, learning in life does not end. By striving to improve ourselves, we can increase our own value. For the development of the entire organization, it is important for people to always have a desire to improve.
9. Achieving Virtue: Strive to improve your character
The ninth virtue is to strive to improve your own character. You may have bad relationships with others, or you're always fighting with people around you. Perhaps the cause lies within you. Also, as your position changes, the role you're expected to play will also change. Life is a time of training, so it's important to strive to improve your own character as long as you live. Efforts to improve your character are also important in eliminating trouble and division within an organization.
10. Public interest affairs: Work hard to benefit people and society at large.
The tenth virtue is to work hard at work that benefits society at large. Even if you master a job, if that job is not useful to people and society, there is no benefit to society. People work, of course, to earn money. However, in order to earn money, it is important that the work you do benefits people and society at large. When people work hard at work that benefits people and society at large, social organizations can develop.
11. Law-abiding: Obey the law and follow social order.
The eleventh virtue is to abide by laws and regulations and follow social order. Actions that disrupt law and order are harmful to society. For society to develop healthily, it is important to foster a law-abiding spirit among people.
12. Voluntary courage: With righteous courage, we will do our best for our country.
The twelfth virtue is to be determined and do your best for the country in times of national emergency. When an organization faces a crisis, the fate of the organization will depend greatly on whether the people within the organization rush to flee or whether they all work together to overcome the crisis for the sake of the organization. In order for the people in an organization to cooperate and unite to overcome a crisis when it falls into crisis, it is important that the people within the organization are bound together by bonds of trust on a daily basis.
Emperor Meiji issued the Imperial Rescript on Education in 1890. That same year, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan came into effect, the first House of Representatives elections were held, and Japan's modernization progressed rapidly. As a businessman, we recommend that you refer to the Imperial Rescript on Education to strengthen your organization and increase your competitiveness.
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