Japanese companies

The oldest companies

Japan has more companies over 100 years old than any other country. These are the oldest on our list.

1. 578 Kongō Gumi 578–2006 · Temple builders for over 1,400 years
2. 705 Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan 1,321 years · The world's oldest hotel
3. 1500s Toraya About 506 years · Wagashi confectioner to the imperial court
4. 1673 Mitsui 353 years · From a kimono shop to a business empire
5. 1870 Mitsubishi 156 years · Three diamonds, from a shipping firm
6. 1872 Shiseido 154 years · A Ginza pharmacy that became a beauty giant

Surprising beginnings

Companies that started out making something very different.

• Mitsui 1673 From a kimono shop to a business empire
• Shiseido 1872 A Ginza pharmacy that became a beauty giant
• Yamaha 1887 From organ repair to pianos and motorcycles
• Nintendo 1889 From playing cards to Mario
• Toyota 1937 Born in a loom factory
• Fujifilm 1934 From photo film to cosmetics and medicine

Companies that fell

Famous names that collapsed, or now live on only inside another company.

• Kongō Gumi 578–2006 Temple builders for over 1,400 years
• Yamaichi Securities 1897–1997 The collapse that shocked Japan
• Takata 1933–2017 The airbag recall that ended a company
• Sanyo 1947–2011 A rival founded by the Panasonic family

Japanese companies

28 companies

• 金剛組 Kongō Gumi Founded 578 · Centuries-old firms Temple builders for over 1,400 years Absorbed · 2006
• 西山温泉 Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan Founded 705 · Centuries-old firms The world's oldest hotel
• 虎屋 Toraya Founded Early 1500s · Food and drink Wagashi confectioner to the imperial court
• 三井 Mitsui Founded 1673 · Trading and finance From a kimono shop to a business empire
• 三菱 Mitsubishi Founded 1870 · Trading and finance Three diamonds, from a shipping firm
• 資生堂 Shiseido Founded 1872 · Beauty A Ginza pharmacy that became a beauty giant
• 東芝 Toshiba Founded 1875 · Electronics and machinery Inventors of flash memory
• セイコー Seiko Founded 1881 · Electronics and machinery The first quartz wristwatch
• ヤマハ Yamaha Founded 1887 · Electronics and machinery From organ repair to pianos and motorcycles
• 任天堂 Nintendo Founded 1889 · Games and toys From playing cards to Mario
• 山一證券 Yamaichi Securities Founded 1897 · Trading and finance The collapse that shocked Japan Closed · 1997
• サントリ Suntory Founded 1899 · Food and drink Japan's first whisky distillery
• 日立製作 Hitachi Founded 1910 · Electronics and machinery A motor built in a mine repair shop
• シャープ Sharp Founded 1912 · Electronics and machinery Named after a pencil
• キッコー Kikkoman Founded 1917 · Food and drink Soy sauce from Noda to the world
• パナソニ Panasonic Founded 1918 · Electronics and machinery Started with a two-way socket
• タカタ Takata Founded 1933 · Cars and motorcycles The airbag recall that ended a company Closed · 2017
• 富士フイ Fujifilm Founded 1934 · Electronics and machinery From photo film to cosmetics and medicine
• ヤクルト Yakult Founded 1935 · Food and drink A doctor's probiotic drink
• トヨタ自 Toyota Founded 1937 · Cars and motorcycles Born in a loom factory
• キヤノン Canon Founded 1937 · Electronics and machinery A camera named after a Buddhist goddess
• ソニー Sony Founded 1946 · Electronics and machinery Started in a bombed-out department store
• 三洋電機 Sanyo Founded 1947 · Electronics and machinery A rival founded by the Panasonic family Absorbed · 2011
• 本田技研 Honda Founded 1948 · Cars and motorcycles From bicycle engines to the best-selling vehicle ever
• 日清食品 Nissin Founded 1948 · Food and drink The inventor of instant noodles
• ユニクロ Uniqlo Founded 1949 · Retail and fashion A small-town tailor turned global brand
• 日本航空 Japan Airlines Founded 1951 · Airlines and transport Bankrupt and back in two years
• ソフトバ SoftBank Founded 1981 · Telecoms and internet A software shop turned tech investor