Worlds Oldest Company
On a whim, I decided I wanted to know what the world’s oldest company was.
“Kongō Gumi Co., Ltd. (株式会社金剛組, Kabushiki Gaisha Kongō Gumi?) was a Japanese construction company established by Korean people and the world’s oldest continuously ongoing company, operating for over 1,400 years. Headquartered in Osaka, the family-owned construction company traced its origins to 578 when Prince Shotoku brought Kongō family members from Baekje to Japan to build the Buddhist Shitennō-ji, a temple that still stands. These temples even endured Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995. Over the centuries, Kongō Gumi participated in the construction of many famous buildings, including the 16th century Osaka Castle and Hōryū-ji in Nara.
A 10-foot 17th century scroll traces the 40 generations back to the company’s start. As with many distinguished Japanese families, sons-in-law often joined the clan and took the Kongō family name. Thus, through the years, the line has continued through either a son or a daughter.
The company fell on hard times and went into liquidation in January 2006. Its assets were purchased by Takamatsu Corporation.[1] [2] Before its liquidation, it had over 100 employees and annual revenue of ¥7.5 billion ($70 million) in 2005; it had still specialized in building Buddhist temples. The last president was Masakazu Kongō, the 40th Kongō to lead the firm. As of December 2006, Kongō Gumi continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Takamatsu. It should be noted that Kongo family still continue to practice as carpenters.”
However, since this company was liquidated in 2006 (man that really sucks):
“Hōshi (法師, Hōshi?) is a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) in the Awazu Onsen area of Komatsu, in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Founded in 717, it is the world’s oldest hotel still in operation according to Guinness World Records [1] and the world’s oldest continuously operating company after the liquidation of Kongō Gumi in 2006.”
Entry viewed times. Posted in Entertainment and News
