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| Sunday, 14 September 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Koichi Yamanaka : Success 'docked' at his door Honesty, the ability to accomplish a given task with responsibility and adhering to the instructions of superiors are the keys to success of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Colombo Dockyard Limited Koichi Yamanaka. Family Yamanaka was born in Osaka, Japan to a family of one girl and four boys. His father worked at the Osaka City Office while his mother kept house and looked after the children. His father and a brother have now passed away. Education "I had my education at the Kitano High School in Osaka. My main hobby during this time was electronics while I also enjoyed painting. During my school days I played soccer too, which I continued during my university days. I wanted to enter an university well known for electronics, but could not. Therefore, I entered the University of Osaka Prefecture from where I graduated in Naval Architecture in 1964 from the Department of Technology." Career Armed with a degree in Naval Architecture, young Yamanaka joined the Mitsui Engineering and Ship Building Co of Japan as a Ship Repair Engineer. He was attached to a department known as Tamano Works. Around this time, the company wanted to set up the Mitsui Yura Dockyard in the Wakayama prefecture. Yamanaka was assigned to set up the dockyard and worked there for 23 years, finally becoming General Manager. "In 1994, I was moved back to the headquarters in Tokyo and made the head of three dockyards". Mitsui Engineering and Ship Building Co owned many dockyards. In 1997 he retired from Mitsui. Chairman Colombo Dockyard He was employed by Onomachi Dockyard in Japan as a Director from 1998. This company owns 51 per cent of Colombo Dockyard. Yamanaka was seconded to Sri Lanka as the Chairman of Colombo Dockyard in 1998. Besides being Chairman, he also works as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. He said that everything is very costly in Sri Lanka. "Therefore, we have to reduce costs if we are to manage the company efficiently. The solution is to eliminate unnecessary expenditure and increase productivity. We are doing our best and even exploring the possibility of moving into new areas of business so that the company can increase profits." He was of the view that the government should start many development programmes one after the other. This, he said, will generate employment opportunities for people, resulting in prosperity in the country. Hobbies Yamanaka said: "During the time I started working, the Japanese economy had started to grow rapidly, and the ship repair industry played a major role in this development. This kept the industry and the people engaged in it very busy, and the jobs were also very strenuous. Many took to drinking to ease off the stress, but I did not. Instead, I engaged myself in several hobbies including photography, oil painting, collecting cameras and radio-controlled airplanes, making software, travelling and writing poems, some of which I had started in my school days. "At university, studies had kept me busy, leaving me no time to pursue my hobby of painting. Therefore, I took to photography and now have a large collection of photographs. One day, after I retire, I will start painting, using these photographs." His collection of photographs is available on his personal website. He said that he has many hobbies, but nothing is completed. Advice "Do not be ready with excuses, instead admit the fault and correct it. If there is a problem, solve it without neglecting it. Punctuality is also a must to succeed." He said the masses in Sri Lanka are very good, kind and nice. The island is good for tourists as it has many places to visit and enjoy, but those who come here on business and work will not think it a good place because of the peculiar behaviour of some of the people they have to deal with, he said. Associations Yamanaka is also Chairman of Japan Commerce and Industry Association in Sri Lanka and Director of Japanese Solidarity Association. (Special thanks to Chandana Nugegodage, Personal Assistant to Mr Yamanaka, who helped translate my questions to Japanese and vice versa.) (SG) ############# Fact File Name: Koichi Yamanaka School Attended: Kitano High School, Osaka City University: University of Osaka Prefecture Present Position: Chairman and CEO Colombo Dockyard Ltd Wife: Yoko Children: Two daughters (married) |
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