Konosuke Matsushita and his time capsule: a testament to his vision and belief in the future

Konosuke Matsushita was a visionary Japanese businessman and philanthropist who founded the electronics company Matsushita Electric, now known as Panasonic. In addition to his business success, Matsushita also had a vision for the future and humanity.

In 1970, at the World’s Fair in Japan, Matsushita exhibited a time capsule containing items representing the culture and technology of the time, as well as messages and wishes for peace and harmony for future generations. The capsule was made of stainless steel and designed to last 5,000 years.

Matsushita created the time capsule to show his long-term vision and commitment to the future of humanity. Although it was a temporary exhibit at the Expo, the time capsule became a symbol of Matsushita’s vision and philosophy.

The time capsule replica can still be seen in the inner courtyard of the Konosuke Matsushita Museum in Osaka, Japan. The museum not only displays products, but also conveys Matsushita’s management philosophy and its commitment to creating a better future for mankind.

The time capsule contained 2,098 items selected by a panel of experts. The items ranged from traditional handicrafts, illustrated scrolls depicting daily life and literary works such as “The Tale of Genji” and “Snow Country”, to compositions and drawings by primary and secondary school students, and even catalogs of products.

Among the items included was a phonograph recording of Konosuke Matsushita’s voice reading his “Message Sent to Mankind 5000 Years from Now”.

In a television interview during the Expo, Konosuke Matsushita said, “It’s one of my dreams. We can only live in this day and age, but how will the person who opens [the capsule] think at that time? How will they think things? It interests me to think about it… As we have become materially and spiritually unbalanced these days, how will that develop in 5000 years? Are they in a state of imbalance or have they progressed ideally, finding the right balance to live with body and mind as one? I think it’s a real problem. That is why I want to send out a warning now that we cannot afford to be out of balance 5000 years from now.

After the exhibition was over, two time capsules were placed in Osaka Castle Park, one at 10 meters and one at 15 meters depth. These capsules contained the same elements. It was decided that one of them would remain sealed and dormant for 5,000 years, while the other would open after 30 years and then every 100 years after that. This measure would make it possible to examine the cultural conditions of each century as the years go by.

Matsushita’s time capsule is a testament to his legacy and his belief in the importance of looking to the future and creating a better world for generations to come.