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The Oldest Company in the World Resides in Japan

The Oldest Company in the World Resides in Japan

Kongo Gumi Construction Company in Japan 800 years old

February 20, 2016 8:16 pm

Nihon Scope

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Kongo Gumi – The Oldest Company in Japan is a Construction Business!

Kongo Gumi Co., Ltd. is the world’s oldest continuously running independent company ever to exist, Kongo Gumi can be traced back to 578 AD when it first started. Until 2006 when it was absorbed as a subsidiary. Can you imagine being apart of a company that’s existence has been around 1,400 years?

(PRESS THE CC BUTTON IN THE VIDEO FOR SUBTITLES) A huge three meter (seventeenth century) scroll draws a line back 40 generations to where this humble Japanese construction company began. The company was passed down through sons and a daughters since son-in-laws would be taken into the family name.

Sadly in 2006 they liquidated their assets to a company called Takamatsu Construction Group. Before things fell apart this company had over 100 dedicated employees and a 7.5 billion Yen annual business. ($70 Million USD). Kongo Gumi was a specialist in constructing Buddhist temples. The very last president of this noble construction company was Madakazu Kongo, which was the 50th president of this family to run the company.

Although they are not fully independent they still operate with Takamatsu Construction Group.

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/gaia/backnumber/preview080108.html

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I've been interested in Japanese as a language and as a culture since I was about 15 years old. In April 2017 my wife and I moved to Fukuoka, Japan to go to school for 2 years. We've since returned to America and now are looking to expand Nihon Scope further for future visitors of Japan to get in touch with the best school they can. We're also here sharing our experiences of Japan and the culture. Get in touch with us on Facebook for the quickest response!