Heartfelt! Inspiring Quotes Left by Great Figures of Japan
Various great figures who built Japan have left behind numerous famous sayings.
These quotes sometimes resonate with people living in the present and can serve as guideposts when moving things forward.
In this article, we introduce inspiring quotes left by those known as great figures of Japan.
We have gathered quotes from a variety of fields, including historical figures, people who supported major corporations, athletes, and entertainers.
Among the quotes we present, you may find a hint that clears your mind.
Be sure to check them out!
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Resonating with the Heart! Timeless Quotes by Great Figures of Japan (71–80)
Have aspirations and stay true to your convictionsSanae Takaichi
These words succinctly capture her guiding principles and approach as a politician.
Ms.
Takaichi has embodied the importance of maintaining consistent convictions through concrete policies such as strengthening economic security, enhancing education policy, and promoting regional revitalization.
For example, in her remarks on stabilizing people’s livelihoods and disaster preparedness, we can see a commitment to pursuing policy from a long-term perspective, unswayed by short-term trends or political pressure.
It is also a message that in our own lives and work, staying true to our goals with consistency can determine the outcomes we achieve.
Since we have a god here, I’d love the chance to play a game with you.Sota Fujii

In response to the question, “If there were a god of shogi, what would you ask for?”, Sota Fujii answered as follows.
Don’t his words make it clear how much he thinks about shogi every day? You can also sense his curiosity—his desire to deepen his understanding of the game and to know how a god would play shogi.
Sota Fujii’s strength goes without saying, of course.
Yet he is not content with that; his determination to aim even higher is truly moving.
When you feel tempted to take the easy way out, try recalling these words.
Hardships are the best trials that forge me.Sanae Takaichi
These are words that convey a will to look forward and keep moving—something only Ms.
Takaichi, who has faced headwinds and criticism throughout her career, can truly speak to.
The higher the spotlight, the greater the challenges; it’s the kind of situation that would discourage most people.
Yet she frames the fact that she has continued to move forward as a source of strength.
The resolve to keep going without giving up, and to hold fast to one’s convictions in any circumstance, are also points that inspire reassurance and trust.
The more she confronts difficulties, the more she is tempered; it raises expectations for how much strength she will continue to build and what the future may hold.
Resonating with the Heart! Memorable Quotes Left by Great Japanese Figures (81–90)
If you’re afraid of criticism, you can’t change anything.Sanae Takaichi
These are words Ms.
Takaichi said in an interview that express her stance on what politicians ought to do.
She argues that taking on major reforms is a necessary attitude for politicians, and that if they fear criticism, those reforms cannot move forward.
It’s a statement that conveys a determination to push ahead—listening to both support and criticism while steering politics toward a better future.
The very fact that she dares to say this suggests she is striving to change something.
It wasn’t by chance that we made it back alive. This is our mission.Sandwich Man
These are words from Sandwichman, a comedy duo from Sendai, that express a determination to keep moving forward.
The key point is that at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake, they happened to be in Kesennuma, Miyagi—one of the disaster areas—while filming a TV show.
They convey what it means that they survived: being alive in that place was both fate and a mission, and they believe they are called to walk forward and pass on the story to the future.
You can feel their love for their hometown and their resolve to carry it on their shoulders as they move ahead.
The biggest regret in life is not having tried.Tadashi Yanai
As many of you know, Tadashi Yanai is the Japanese entrepreneur who founded UNIQLO.
I imagine many people can relate to this quote of his.
Being afraid of failure, afraid of being laughed at, afraid of being different from everyone else… There are surprisingly many people who can’t bring themselves to take on something new.
In times like that, we should remember Yanai’s words.
He wasn’t successful from the start either—during his student days he struggled through a grueling job hunt, and even after opening UNIQLO’s first store, it earned a bad reputation and he had a hard time.
Perhaps that’s exactly why his words resonate so deeply.
Politicians are public servants who work for the people.Sanae Takaichi
Since ancient times, it has been taught that “those in power should look to the people’s hearths,” and putting citizens’ livelihoods first has been held up as an ideal.
Ms.
Takaichi’s words carry this tradition into the present and express a strong determination to pass it on to the future.
Even in her stance toward tackling major issues such as economic stability and national security, there is a living spirit at the core: to devote oneself to the people.
The principle that politicians are public servants demonstrates a humble yet resolute posture of working not to wield power, but to safeguard the happiness of the citizenry.
Through these words, we too, as citizens, can be reminded of the essence of politics and heighten our awareness of building the future together.


