「こけたら、立ちなはれ」(koketara, tachinahare) are words of wisdom from Kōnosuke Matsushita (松下 幸之助) (1894-1989).
Matsushita is the Japanese industrialist who founded Panasonic. Known in Japan as the “god of management,” he gained international prominence when John Kotter, a management academic and recognized authority on leadership, wrote a book called “Matsushita Leadership” (Simon & Schuster, 1997). The book won the Financial Times global business book of the year award and handed Matsushita the mantle of global leadership greatness. As Kotter noted, Matsushita was neither charismatically handsome nor internationally recognized. Nevertheless, he did what all great leaders do—motivate large groups of individuals to improve the human condition.
In his later years, Matsushita took to explaining social philosophy and wrote a number of books, including one entitled 「こけたら、立ちなはれ」. He also established a publishing company -- Peace and Happiness through Prosperity (PHP) -- that has long been delivering tips for a spiritually-enriched lifestyle.
「こけたら、立ちなはれ」is simple phrase in the Kansai dialect that translates to “Stand up if you fall down.”
こけたら (koketara) means “if you tumble”, and たちなはれ (tachinahare) is the standard Japanese equivalent of お立ちください, meaning “please stand.” Although ～なはれ (~nahare) is an old-fashioned suffix, Kansai comedians still use the expression playfully in their performances. こけたら (koketara) is more casual and playful than ころんだら (korondara)．Therefore, the phrase is congenial and conveys humor.
Matsushita often mentioned that, “If you stop where you have failed, then you fail; if you continue until you succeed, it will be your success.” Although Matsushita encountered early hardship, his never-ending thirst for learning and extraordinary perseverance empowered him to bounce back from setbacks and made him a prominent figure in the corporate world.
Matsushita’s words remind us that perseverance provides a pathway through challenges.
—by Ukita-sensei