Steve Jobs has been the public face of some of the greatest technological innovations of the 21st century. But privately, he was known for his passion for Japanese culture. He was particularly fond of Kyoto and over the course of 25 years he got to know the ancient Japanese capital well.
Fifteen stones
When it came to Kyoto, Oshima Hiroshi was Steve Jobs' man. Oshima worked as a driver and tour guide for Jobs on four trips, the most recent in 2010, just a year before the Apple founder died. Jobs had a vague idea of what he wanted to see, but left the details to Oshima.
Over the years, the two grew closer and Jobs gave Oshima his address and phone number, urging him to call if he ever had the chance to visit the United States. Oshima says he even jokingly asked Jobs to name one of the Apple products "Hiro".
Oshima says one of Jobs' favorite destinations was Ryoanji, a 500-year-old Zen temple known for its rock garden. Oshima took Jobs there three times.
"On our first visit, I told him about the temple's unique visual makeup," says Oshima. "The garden has fifteen stones, but you can't see them all at once from one point."
Oshima says Jobs immediately checked whether this was true. He walked, looking for the perfect spot to see the garden, but couldn't find it.
Then I explained the meaning of the number: 15 means 'to be complete'. In the past, men were recognized as reaching adulthood by the age of 15. A full moon night is called 'Jyugoya', or fifteenth night. The reason why we can't find the 15 rocks is that we are still in the works ».
Oshima says that Jobs seemed to accept this and nodded, keeping his eyes on the garden. Years later, he took his children to the temple and told them what Oshima had explained to him.
Jobs talked about the influence of Zen Buddhism on his life in his authorized biography: “I have always found Buddhism, especially Japanese Zen Buddhism, aesthetically sublime. The most sublime I have seen are the gardens around Kyoto. I am deeply moved by what that culture has produced, and it is directly related to Zen Buddhism. '
"I want a garden like this."
In July 2010, Oshima was taking Jobs to an upscale neighborhood near the Nanzenji Temple. One residence in particular caught Jobs's attention. It was Villa Nomura, completed in 1928 by Nomura Tokushichi, the founder of Nomura Securities. The residence is known for its pristine garden and has been designated as a Cultural Property of National Importance. But it is rarely open to the public.
"I told him it would be impossible to get in, but he said he could find a way," says Oshima. "He called his secretary in the US and ten minutes later I got a call from Nomura's headquarters saying we had a reservation for a personal visit the next day."
When they returned, an interpreter was waiting for Jobs. Oshima was waiting outside in the car.
"When he came back an hour later, he said, 'I'd like to have a garden like that.'
Final lunch
In terms of Japanese cuisine, Oshima says that Jobs has always loved soba and that his favorite restaurant was Misoka-an Kawamichiya, a shop near the Tawaraya ryokan, where he always stayed during his visits.
"I tried to take him to a different place once, but he didn't finish his meal," says Oshima. "He asked me to take him back to his usual place to eat."
Jobs loved sushi too, and on the last day of his last trip to Kyoto he took his family for lunch at the popular Sushiiwa restaurant. While his wife and daughter were planning the course menu, Jobs asked the owner for advice.
"He asked me for seasonal sushi," recalls Ohnishi Toshiya, owner of Sushiiwa.
Ohnishi started Jobs with flounder sushi, then squid and shrimp. When he needed the bull, the fat part of the tuna, Jobs suddenly fell silent. Ohnishi asked if there was something wrong.
“He asked me what would work next and I told him I hadn't decided. He told me to continue serving the bull until he asked me to stop. '
The bull was from Oma City, Aomori Prefecture. The local tuna is famous for its fatty meat. Ohnishi says he served six pieces in a row.
"He told me he had never eaten such delicious sushi," says Ohnishi.
At the end of the meal, Ohnishi asked for Jobs' autograph for his daughter. The Apple founder rarely accepted such requests, but, perhaps in a good mood for the food, he said he would be happy to do so. Ohnishi wished him to come back soon, but Jobs said it would be difficult.
“He told me that he was suffering from a serious illness and that this could be his last trip to Kyoto. It was shocking to hear that. He also asked me to deliver sushi to his home in the US if he couldn't go back to my restaurant. '
"All good things"
Jobs's autograph now adorns Sushiiwa's wall. It comes with a message: "All good things", a shortened version of the saying "All good things must come to an end."
"Chances are he was aware of when his life would end, as he only died a year later," says Ohnishi. "Maybe that's why he chose not to write the entire sentence and left only the first three words."
Six years after Jobs's visit, a restaurant visitor was particularly surprised to see Sushiiwa's autograph. John Sculley joined Apple as CEO in 1983, convinced by Jobs himself to quit his job at PepsiCo. But the two had their differences, which led to Jobs' infamous departure from Apple just two years later.
In 2016, Sculley stopped by Sushiiwa to eat. Ohnishi told her about her former partner's visit, and despite the difficult end of their business relationship, Sculley burst into tears.
"He told me that since they retired from the front line of business, they could enjoy sushi at Steve's favorite restaurant and have a great time together," says Ohnishi. "But he died and is now in heaven."
Watch the amazing video about Steve Jobs' passion for Japan:
Steve Jobs' Secret Passion | NHK WORLD-JAPAN On Demand https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/3004698/
Translated by NKK
