[Japanese Side] "Businesses Desired by Society Succeed" SECOM Founder Iida Makoto

Japan's First Private Security Company Established
Aiming to Realize a 'Society Without Anxiety'

Editor's NoteJapan, a country close yet distant. Many have heard the name but wonder who these figures really are. An international department reporter covering Japanese news introduces notable Japanese figures who made headlines over the past week, along with the stories connected to them.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] You have probably often seen the 'S-1 Secom' sign on buildings using private security companies. When it comes to security companies, Secom comes to mind. The person we introduce this week is none other than Secom’s founder, Iida Makoto. He passed away on the 7th at the age of 89, and since Secom was Japan’s first private security company, memorial articles about him have continued even within Japan.

Dreaming of Becoming a Businessman Under a Liquor Wholesale Father

Makoto Iida, founder of Secom. (Photo by Secom Japan official website)

Mr. Iida was born in 1933 in Tokyo as the youngest of five siblings. It seems his business DNA was inherited. His father, who ran a liquor wholesale business called 'Okanaga,' was very passionate about business management and consistently taught his children how to run a store. Perhaps due to this early education, most of the siblings became entrepreneurs, and naturally, Mr. Iida also dreamed of becoming a businessman. Okanaga, his father’s company, grew with the vision of "delivering delicious liquor to enthusiasts" and has now developed into a corporation, making it a family of entrepreneurs.

After graduating from Gakushuin University, Mr. Iida had a meal with his longtime drinking friend Toda Shuichi and another acquaintance. The acquaintance, who had just returned from Europe, hinted, "There are companies in Europe that specialize in security services." Upon hearing this, Iida and Toda immediately felt, "This is it!" and decided to establish Japan’s first security company. It reportedly took them less than 30 minutes to make this decision after hearing the story.

With their saved funds and a 4 million yen loan, the two founded a company called 'Japan Security Service' and started operations with five employees. Initially, the company logo combined an owl, a nocturnal bird, and a key, a symbol of security. The owl and key mark are still used today as button designs on Secom security guards’ uniforms in Japan.

Business Expansion Through Development of Security Alarm Service

Like any business, Mr. Iida had to personally promote the company in its early days. It was not easy to secure contracts, and it took four months after founding to land the first contract.

When they had barely secured double-digit contracts, Mr. Iida signed a contract for permanent security with an international exhibition hall in Tokyo. The conditions were harsh, as there were no security posts in the vast fields, and they had to live and guard in camping tents, but they persevered until the end.

The company’s success accelerated thanks to the Tokyo Olympics. In 1954, the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee requested security services from Mr. Iida. They asked him to handle security for the athletes’ village from the construction phase. At that time, the athletes’ village consisted of about 400 U.S. military houses scheduled for demolition, and the security situation was poor. Mr. Iida successfully completed the security without any incidents, greatly enhancing the company’s reputation.

The security alarm service, where Secom responds when an alarm sounds, was created in 1966. Expanding patrol and permanent security would exponentially increase the number of employees, making management difficult and increasing labor costs, which could be burdensome for clients. The 'SP Alarm' service, where the headquarters monitors the equipment and dispatches personnel when a red light goes off at a client’s location, was born from this idea. The current Secom system was essentially completed at this time.

Secom’s dispatch service also contributed to capturing a serial killer. In 1969, when a Secom guard responded to a break-in, they encountered a serial killer who had shot and killed four people across Japan and engaged in a struggle. The criminal fled but was soon arrested by the police. The public praised Secom’s prompt response as instrumental in the capture, further boosting Secom’s reputation.

Success in Businesses Desired by Society... Attention on Management Philosophy

Afterward, Mr. Iida expanded the business beyond simple building security to develop home security services and extend into disaster prevention, insurance, and overall safety. This was due to his philosophy of “only engaging in businesses that help society.”

Following his passing, Secom’s management philosophy has once again attracted attention. In media interviews, Mr. Iida said, “Business requires perseverance and the belief that you will succeed even if you die trying. Without this, failure is 100% certain.”

He also emphasized that managers must always pursue change and innovation with statements like, “Being suitable for a new era alone is too slow. You must always stand on the crest of the wave and swim at the same speed as the wave,” and “If you delay decisions by even a day, the company will eventually be in jeopardy.”

Secom, which started with the goal of realizing a “society without anxiety,” now has 10,000 branches in Japan alone and employs 590,000 security guards. Recently, dramas about chaebol family management have gained popularity in Korea as well. Reflecting on what makes a good company and manager, his words, “Businesses that society wants will ultimately succeed,” resonate deeply once again.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.