It’s been 43 years since KOBAYASHI Kazunori was first assigned to work in Indonesia as a trading company employee. For nearly half of his life, he’s poured his energy into promoting exchange with Japan from his base of activity in Indonesia. A Kobe U alum and chairperson of the Indonesia Japan Friendship Association, Kobayashi also currently works as senior counsellor at Sinarmas in Indonesia. He received Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays in 2023 for his contributions to strengthening the relations between the two nations. Active on the world stage, how did Kobayashi build relationships of trust with individuals overseas, and how does he view Japan’s current position in the world? He told us about his experiences and viewpoints and has a message to the next generation.
Looking out from the university across the ocean, he felt connections with the world
It was mid-May when Kobayashi visited his alma mater Kobe University. Pulling on his coat, he said with a gentle smile, “It’s a bit cold coming from Indonesia.”
Born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture, Kobayashi graduated from Hyogo Prefectural Ashiya High School and entered Kobe University’s Faculty of Economics. The choice to enter Kobe University came from a suggestion by his high school teacher. “I wanted to enter a national university, and I could commute to Kobe University from home. I didn’t even need to do my own laundry. Typical high school student logic, of course, but that’s sort of endearing in a way.”
Upon entering Kobe University, he was moved by its lush greenery and expansive campus. Looking down on Kobe from the main gate at Rokkodai, he could see a wide ocean sprawling in front of him beyond the urban districts.
“I had a strong impression that this place was connected to the world. I’m at ease when I’m on the university’s wide, open campus. There is an air of freedom here, and I felt that I could make the most of my individuality.”
Kobayashi still clearly remembers the lyrics to “Shoshin,” Kobe University’s former school song that’s still beloved by members of the Kobe University community. He used to sing it all the time with his teammates on the tennis club. The lyrics of the song contained something like “Kobe is a place chosen by the god of commerce, a place to soar out into the world.” These lyrics overlap with Kobayashi’s path following graduation.
Attracted by the dynamic development of Indonesia
From the time he was at Kobe University, Kobayashi had always felt that he wanted to work on the international stage. In 1965, after graduating from the Faculty of Economics, he entered the general trading company Marubeni Corporation. A big reason for choosing Marubeni was a former senior member of the tennis club who had already joined the company, who said, “If you’re going to get a job at a trading company, it had better be Marubeni.”
After acquiring some experience in the Cotton Department, he was sent on an overseas assignment for the first time since joining the company seven years prior. He was headed to Texas in the southern USA. Of the six years he was there on the assignment, he also spent one year working in Mexico. The experience he gained as a cotton specialist in the USA and Mexico became the impetus for getting involved in the textile industry in Indonesia, an area that had begun to grow. He was assigned to Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, in 1982, and was tasked with managing the Foods & Textile Department.
There he had a fateful encounter with Franky Widjaja, son of the founder of Sinarmas, a major conglomerate corporation. Franky was over 15 years younger than Kobayashi, but he was well-versed in Japan and had experience studying abroad at Aoyama Gakuin University, so the two had a strong, trusting relationship, and worked together on various projects.
“When I think about why my connection with Indonesia has lasted so long, I think it may be partly because I was attracted by Indonesia’s economic potential and how dynamic it is, but really it was mostly because I met Franky. On the journey of life, it’s our encounters with people that are what’s important.”
When he was 52, he finally made the decision to make a career move from Marubeni to Sinarmas. Kobayashi says, “I felt that just by being in the middle of the dynamic goings-on of this country would make me better and lift me higher.” After his career change, he engaged in joint ventures with a variety of Japanese corporations, even strengthening his business relationship with Marubeni.
Taking the bond between the two nations into the future through interactions between citizens
These past ten or so years haven’t just been spent in the business world; Kobayashi has poured his energy into interactions between the citizens of the two nations. 2008 marked the 50th year since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Indonesia, and the very next year saw the start of the Jakarta Japan matsuri, an event held in collaboration between the public and private sectors, in which Kobayashi had been involved since its initial planning stages. He has served as the chairman of the executive committee for the event since 2012, and now the Indonesia Japan Friendship Association (founded in 2020), where Kobayashi also serves as chairperson, is the executive body for the event.
Attended by tens of thousands of people each year, JJM is one of Jakarta’s most popular events and features a traditional Japanese bon odori dance , introductions to the cultures of both countries, live music, stalls offering Japanese food, and all sorts of other attractions for attendees to enjoy. In 2023, JJM was held as part of celebrations for the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations and featured a number of musical artists from both countries, including fan favorite Da-iCE from Japan.
Though the two nations have a complex history, which includes the events of World War II, Kobayashi says, “The people of Indonesia are very pro-Japanese and have a strong sense of trust for Japan. Following the war, economic exchange between the two nations underwent significant development, primarily in the manufacturing industry, which led to an exceptionally strong relationship. The young people of Indonesia love Japanese animation and popular culture.”
However, now that China has shown phenomenal growth, Japan isn’t the only country Indonesia holds in high regard. Not only that, but from the 2040s, Indonesia is forecast to become a major power, with a gross domestic product exceeding even Japan’s. With that state of affairs in mind, Kobayashi calmly looks ahead to the future path that Japan must follow.
“The relationship between Japan and Indonesia should not be some kind of passing trend, but rather, it’s important that we continue to foster the longstanding relationship of trust we’ve cultivated throughout our histories.”
Kobayashi keeps a Chinese teaching loved by the late Eka Tjipta Widjaja, founder of Sinarmas, close to his heart: “When you drink water, think of its source.” Put simply, this expression means to be grateful for your blessings. It also connects him to the countless people who have worked to build up the relationship between Japan and Indonesia.
Now, that feeling is being passed down to the next generation. “I think it’s necessary for Japan to continue to express the values it holds dear, those of trust, responsibility, and safety, to the world. I hope that my juniors at Kobe University will interact with the people of the world and learn what’s going on in it while adhering to those values.”
This message lines up with Kobayashi’s own life journey, one in which he has continually made efforts to expand his horizons and build bonds with individuals overseas.
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Born in Hyogo Prefecture in 1942. In 1965, graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Kobe University and entered Marubeni Corporation. At Marubeni, worked at locations including Tokyo, the USA and Indonesia. In 1995, joined Sinarmas, a major corporation in Indonesia. After serving as executive director and managing director, in 2018, became senior counsellor. In 2019, became chairman of Small & Medium Enterprises Japan. In 2017, received the Commendation Award from the Foreign Minister of Japan for his contribution of friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and Indonesia. Currently lives in Jakarta.
