The Founding Spirit
The Management Philosophy of Chairman Shinji Oka

— From Zero, Driving a Nation Forward Through Trust —

Born in Okayama, he lost his father in the war and grew up from an early age with a firm resolve to stand on his own.
Although life was not affluent, spending time with his grandparents and being surrounded by members of the local community deeply instilled in him a fundamental belief: that people live by supporting one another.

In his early years, a friend approached him about establishing a driving school, and he began forging his path as an instructor and examiner for large vehicles.
To him, teaching was more than passing on technical skills—it was about imparting the judgment needed to protect human life.
Guiding people on the road became an experience that later formed the foundation of his business.

Then came a fateful encounter: a request for timber transportation.
He had no capital—zero. But he did have trust. With a small loan from a bank, he purchased a new truck and hired his first driver.
However, on the very first day, a tragic accident occurred at an intersection, resulting in a loss of life.
He did not turn away. He faced the situation directly, accepted responsibility, and engraved a principle into his heart: safety above all else.
—At that moment, the “flag of zero accidents,” which would become the origin of Chairman Oka’s philosophy, was raised.

The company he built from nothing grew on a foundation of trust.
Rather than controlling people, he chose to serve them first.

Gratitude does not always return through the same connection—it comes back through different bonds.
He never turned away from the numbers, stood on the front lines, avoided expanding his workforce unnecessarily, and worked alongside others with his own hands.
Because of this, the company grew into a vital presence supporting logistics—the very lifeblood of Japan.

Serving in leadership roles within industry associations in Japan’s logistics sector, he helped safeguard regional traffic safety and logistics.
Through logistics, he supported the foundations of the nation.
That he continues to remain active even at the age of 86 is a source of admiration for many.

As the business expanded, a base was established within Narita International Airport, and transportation operations came to be carried out in coordination with four locations across Japan.
Being entrusted with cargo inspections and strict logistics management stands as proof of decades of accident-free operations and earned trust.

His journey also extended beyond Japan.
In African countries with limited forest resources, he introduced housing materials and supported local communities so that people could build homes with their own hands.
When trust is received, it is passed on in another form to the next person.
Chairman Oka’s international cooperation is built upon this very cycle of trust.

In recent years, his encounter with silica has also aligned deeply with this philosophy.
Plant-derived silica, produced from rice husks that would otherwise be discarded, improves soil, purifies water, moderates heat, and supports life itself.
In the wisdom of transforming waste into value, Chairman Oka sees the future.

He often says that “names matter,” because a brand remains in people’s memories and becomes the gateway to trust.

In Chairman Oka’s words, there is always a gaze filled with genuine care for others.

“Do not restrain people. Help them. Serve first.
Gratitude will always return through another door.”

Guided by this belief, many people come to shake the Chairman’s hand—both in meeting rooms and at worksites.

A man who began with nothing went on to support Japan’s logistics, protect regional safety, and build bridges to the international community.
—The driving force behind it all has been trust.

Today, the Chairman is quietly preparing to pass the steering wheel of the organization to the next generation.

“Make safety the highest priority. Watch the numbers. Grow people into something greater.”

These words will be carried forward by future leaders and will, in time, open new paths ahead.

Having survived the turmoil of postwar Japan and advanced step by step, Chairman Oka’s journey is far more than the story of a single lifetime.

It embodies the very spirit of Japanese enterprise—built on sincerity and trust—and will remain engraved for generations to come as a steadfast guide toward the future.