Abstract

Neither Steve Jobs nor Bill Gates—the person Masayoshi Son once said he “respected most in the world” was his father, Mitsunori Son.

“Since founding SoftBank, I have always thought: the true first-generation founder was my father. I am only the one-and-a-halfth generation.”

Mitsunori Son started from nothing, selling shōchū door to door before building a fortune through pachinko parlors. Watching his father’s example, Masayoshi Son grew into the entrepreneur who would go on to reshape the world through the AI revolution.

As a Zainichi Korean, Mitsunori endured poverty and discrimination, yet lived with an unyielding spirit. From him, Masayoshi inherited both the essence of business and the pride of a challenger. “You are a genius. You can be the best in the world.” These words, repeated again and again, became the foundation for SoftBank’s creation and its mission: “Bringing happiness to people through the Information Revolution.”

Even after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, Mitsunori declared, “I want to live another five years. There are still things I want to do.” Though his son did everything possible to extend his time, their farewell inevitably came.

Through vivid reporting and powerful prose, author Atsuo Inoue captures the life of the father and the resolve of the son. What is family? What is conviction? This is the story of the origins of Masayoshi Son—and of what it means to live as the ‘one-and-a-halfth generation.’

Author’s Information

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