Entrepreneur Bill Kasuga Courage Helped Him Bring Music To The Public's Ears.(A)(Leaders & Success)

Byline: Patrick Seitz

Investor's Business Daily

For Bill Kasuga, life without courage is no life at all. Courage means strivingto reach your goals in spite of the obstacles, Kasuga says. It also means fighting complacency in your life.

Kasuga first showed his courage at 16 when he decided to leave behind a cushy lifestyle in Japan to return to the U.S., where he was born in 1915.

At the time, he was living with his aunt and uncle, who had raised him since hewas 3

. Kasuga's mother had died in the 1918 influenza epidemic. His father sent him and three siblings to live with relatives in Japan.

Kasuga's uncle wanted him to study medicine in Japan. But Kasuga wanted to get an education in the U.S. and start a business. He knew it wouldn't be easy. He had to relearn English, retake two years of high school and work for an American family to earn tuition.

With determination, he accomplished his goal. Kasuga co-founded Kenwood Electronics Inc. in 1961. A U.S. distributor of home audio products from Japan,it now sells more …