This paper studies the ‘Key person’ who is supposed to be the lead agent of the development works in the endogenous development theory proposed by the Japanese sociologist Tsurumi Kazuko. The study especially explores the source of inspiration and motivation of this ‘Key person’. Author’s previous study made a quantitative analysis of the ‘Need Hierarchy’ suggested by Abraham Maslow and shed light on the level of satisfaction and the degree of self realization with respect to the five ‘key persons’ assumed to have the central role in their respective development works. Consequently, it brought into focus on definite attributes of the Key person —such as the setting of goal, conscious of one’s value system, and the action taken towards the achievement of the goal. These attributes relate to aspects of value consciousness, exposure to the external environment and spirit of sacrifice supposed to be required to tread the road of endogenous development. The present study focuses on the analysis of qualitative factors of motivating force toward the action to be taken by the Key person. It reviews Tsurumi’s view of animism and religious nature of the Key person. The paper argues that character of the ‘Key person’ is not necessarily ‘religious’ as suggested, but is a character that faces a social problem squarely and honestly, and works towards it as his mission. In this sense, this study suggests that one of the characters of a ‘key-person’ is religious in its broadest sense which Maslow suggests for persons of self- realization, while animism as stated by Tsurumi could be inherent within this religiousness.
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