A Leaf in the Streams of Time

As I've done genealogy I thought it strange that the name Richan appears so infrequently. It is, after all, a rare name. In some ways my parentage has distinguished themselves with deeds done for kings and queens. So although I've been able to work my lineage to the year 700 or so, yet only rarely does appear a joyous inscription or other written recognition.

However, moments ago I searched Google Images for my name, distinguished in quotes to exclude things unconnected with myself. Certain photos or other things appeared, but on the last page appeared two images that took my breath away (see screen shot at right).

Although I haven't yet determined exactly why or where within my name appears, two books by Yoshio Tateishi (arch: Tateisi) appeared via the search, linked again to the Tateishi name. It's not improbable that my work at Omron is mentioned in his books. I have been the subject of many case studies and a few articles. I was, after all, the first foreigner to work at Omron, and I did, after all, invent a global marketing philosophy that is reputedly still in use in 2008. And it's no mystery: The President of Omron wrote that my work was pivotal in generating an additional US$3.6 Billion over the initial US$1 Billion. But to have my name appear with this great man and his great company and at his hand... is again breathtaking.

Sizewise, Omron was, at the approximate time of my employ, #127 on one Forbes Fortune 500 list (Coca-Cola was #120; XEROX #142, and Toyota didn't even make the 500 list). To think I could grow that company was-- at the time-- inconceivable.

My North American contemporaries sometimes get frustrated when I try to make clear the magnitude of work I did whilst in Japan. Truly I created some amazing innovations, and I will do it again. But to be perfectly honest, at this moment I feel overjoyed that yet another proof appears to the world-- I'm amazed that Google connected my name to the Tateishi name still, nearly two decades after I was there.

Now I have sons and daughters. It's time for them. And as my stream of life carries off the bright foliage of a season gone by, some deeds done for kings apparently yet live on. For that I am grateful.

Cheers!