Episode 14 Kana-Kanji conversion

My wife said, “we can do it.” Development launched
Basic software level Enabled input by anyone

When we started our business, we decided to deal with office computers (so-called “off-comp”) of Japan Business Computer
Corporation (current JBCC Holdings), not only because of the connections we had with the people, but also because JBCC’s office
computers could use Kanji characters. We thought, in a rural area like Tokushima, a computer that could not use Kanji characters
would be useless.

All Japanese people can elaborate their writing using a desktop microcomputer. To realize such an application, a task that requires
constant checking of JIS code tables is out of the question.
Prior to the PC, computers were equipped with operating systems, or OS, which were proprietary software developed by
manufacturers. With the rise of the PC, “MS-DOS” of Microsoft Corporation and other operating systems came into use.

Since Hatsuko was previously involved in OS development work for office computers, she envisioned the possibility of
incorporating a Japanese language input system at the OS level. If this were to become a reality, anyone would be able to perform
Kana-Kanji conversion, which had previously been left to specialized typists. This would be a breakthrough.

While we were nurturing such an idea, an industrial exhibition was held at a gymnasium in Tokushima City. We at JustSystems also
participated in it, and the sales manager of Logic Systems International, our business partner, came to visit us. The company basically
sold computers directly, but by this time we, JustSystems, had become their sole distributor.
I explained to the sales manager, who was visiting from Tokyo, the need to develop Kana-Kanji conversion software in the Japanese
language.

“In a rural area like ours, there is a high demand for Kana-Kanji conversion among our customers. Would your company be able to
provide them?”

However, the sales manager, who had been transferred from a major trading company, said, “I am not a technical specialist, so could
you come to Tokyo and explain this to our engineers? So, Hatsuko, who was responsible for technical matters, explained to the
engineers in Tokyo. But I was worried whether they were getting our intentions……
Then, after we returned to Tokushima, the office phone rang. It was from the sales manager of Logic Systems.

“Our engineers said that you could develop the software you explained to us the other day, as they’re busy themselves.”
I put my hand on the receiver and asked Hatsuko, who was next to me.

“They’re asking if we can do it ourselves, but what do you think?”
“We can do it.” Hatsuko’s answer was clear and concise.
“Our managing director says, “we can do it.””

I told them exactly what she said. Thus, we, Just System, which had been just a distributor of office computers, launched the
development of Japanese word processing software. This was the beginning of our transformation into a company that would provide
the “Japanese language input system at the OS level” that Hatsuko had envisioned.

Hatsuko, who has expertise in OS development, conceived the idea of a Japanese language input system in response to the generalpurpose
OS for PCs that was beginning to become popular.
Meanwhile, we developed relationships with hardware manufacturers. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It all happened in the
summer of 1982.

By this time, JustSystems had already become a joint-stock company, and had engineers to develop software. On the other hand,
Hatsuko was focusing on the development of Japanese language input software.
When we presented the results of our efforts at a data show in Tokyo in the fall of that year, we immediately received a resounding
response. Then, an encounter awaited us. It was with ASCII Microsoft, a major player in the computer software industry at the time.

Handwritten proposal at that time