Mitsubishi

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Mitsubishi Group
Type Private
Industry Conglomerate
Founded 1870
Founder(s) Iwasaki Yatarō
Headquarters Tokyo, Japan
Area served Worldwide
Key people CEO, Ken Kobayashi
Products Mining, shipbuilding, telecom, financial services, insurance, electronics, automotive, construction, heavy industries, oil and gas, real estate, foods and beverages, chemicals, steel, aviation and others
Revenue Increase US$ 248.6 Billion (2010)
Profit Increase US$ 7.2 Billion (2010)
Employees 350,000 (2010)
Subsidiaries List of subsidiaries
Website Mitsubishi.com

The Mitsubishi Group (三菱グループ, Mitsubishi Gurūpu) (also known as the Mitsubishi Group of Companies or Mitsubishi Companies) is a group of autonomous Japanese multinational companies [1] covering a range of businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark, and legacy.

The Mitsubishi group of companies form a loose entity, the Mitsubishi Keiretsu, which is often referenced in Japanese and US media and official reports; in general these companies all descend from the zaibatsu of the same name. The top 25 companies are also members of the Mitsubishi Kin'yōkai, or "Friday Club", and meet monthly. In addition the Mitsubishi.com Committee exists to facilitate communication and access of the Mitsubishi brand through a portal web site.[2]

History

Yatarō Iwasaki, the founder of Mitsubishi.

The Mitsubishi company was established as a shipping firm by Yatarō Iwasaki (1834–1885) in 1870. In 1873, its name was changed to Mitsubishi Shokai . The name Mitsubishi (三菱) consists of two parts: "mitsu" meaning "three" and "hishi" (which becomes "bishi" under rendaku) meaning "water caltrop" (also called "water chestnut"), and hence "rhombus", which is reflected in the company's logo. It is also translated as "three diamonds".[3]

Mitsubishi was established in 1870, two years after the Meiji Restoration, with shipping as its core business. Its diversification was mostly into related fields. It entered into coal-mining to gain the coal needed for ships, bought a shipbuilding yard from the government to repair the ships it used, founded an iron mill to supply iron to the shipbuilding yard, started a marine insurance business to cater for its shipping business, and so forth. Later, the managerial resources and technological capabilities acquired through the operation of shipbuilding were utilized to expand the business further into the manufacture of aircraft and equipment. Similarly, the experience of overseas shipping led the firm to enter into a trading business.[4]

The company bought into coal mining in 1881 by acquiring the Takashima mine and Hashima Island in 1890, using the production to fuel their extensive steamship fleet. They also diversified into shipbuilding, banking, insurance, warehousing, and trade. Later diversification carried the organization into such sectors as paper, steel, glass, electrical equipment, aircraft, oil, and real estate. As Mitsubishi built a broadly based conglomerate, it played a central role in the modernization of Japanese industry.[5]

The merchant fleet entered into a period of diversification that would eventually result in the creation of three entities:

World War II

Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" fighter.

During the Second World War, Mitsubishi manufactured aircraft under the direction of Dr. Jiro Horikoshi. The Mitsubishi A6M ("Zero") was a primary Japanese naval fighter in World War II. It was used by Imperial Japanese Navy pilots throughout the war, including in kamikaze attacks during the later stages. Allied pilots were astounded by its maneuverability,[citation needed] and it was very successful in combat until the Allies devised tactics to utilize their advantage in armor and diving speed.

Mitsubishi made use of forced labor during this time period. Laborers included allied POWs, as well as Chinese and Korean citizens. In the post-war period, lawsuits and demands for compensations were presented against the Mitsubishi Corporation, in particular by former Chinese slave laborers.[6]

Mitsubishi was involved in the opium trade in China during this period.[7]

1945 to present

Mitsubishi participated in Japan's unprecedented economic growth of the 1950s and 1960s. For example, as Japan modernized its energy and materials industries, the Mitsubishi companies created Mitsubishi Petrochemical, Mitsubishi Atomic Power Industries, Mitsubishi Liquefied Petroleum Gas, and Mitsubishi Petroleum Development.

The traditional Mitsubishi emphasis on technological development was in new ventures in such fields as space development, aviation, ocean development, data communications, computers, and semiconductors. Mitsubishi companies also were active in consumer goods and services.

In 1970, Mitsubishi companies established the Mitsubishi Foundation to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the first Mitsubishi company. The companies also individually maintain charitable foundations. Mitsubishi pavilions have been highlights of expositions in Japan since EXPO'70 in Osaka in 1970s to 1980s.

In the early 2000s, after the merger of several companies, the Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma group came to include the former Green Cross Corporation.

As of 2007, Mitsubishi Corporation, a member of the Mitsubishi Group, is Japan's largest general trading company (sogo shosha) with over 200 bases of operations in approximately 80 countries worldwide. Together with its over 500 group companies, Mitsubishi employs a multinational workforce of approximately 54,000 people.

Mitsubishi Motors reached 1.3 million cars of total production in 2007.

In January 2013, Mitsubishi announced it would be launching a takeover bid for the Japanese meat processor Yonekyu Corp in a deal worth $197 million.[8]

Mitsubishi companies

The Tokyo Building, the headquarters building of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation in Tokyo.
The headquarters building of Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation.

Core members

  • MSSC Inc.

These companies are members of the Mitsubishi Kinyokai (Friday Club), and meet monthly.

Nikkei 225 member companies

Related organizations

The main campus of Seikei University.
  • Atami Yowado
  • Chitose Kosan Co., Ltd.
  • Dai Nippon Toryo Co., Ltd.
  • The Dia Foundation for Research on Ageing Societies
  • Diamond Family Club
  • Kaitokaku
  • Koiwai Noboku Kaisha, Ltd.
  • LEOC JAPAN Co., Ltd.
  • Marunouchi Yorozu Corp.
  • Meiwa Corporation
  • Mitsubishi C&C Research Association
  • Mitsubishi Club
  • Mitsubishi Corporate Name and Trademark Committee
  • Mitsubishi Economic Research Institute
  • Mitsubishi Electric Automation (MEAU)
  • The Mitsubishi Foundation
  • Mitsubishi Kinyokai
  • Mitsubishi Marketing Association
  • Mitsubishi Motors North America
  • Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.[9]
  • Mitsubishi Public Affairs Committee
  • The Mitsubishi Yowakai Foundation
  • MT Insurance Service Co., Ltd.
  • Nippon TCS Solution Center Ltd.
  • Seikadō Bunko Art Museum
  • Shonan Country Club
  • Sotsu Corporation
  • The Toyo Bunko
  • Seikei University

See also

  • List of aircraft by Mitsubishi

References

  1. ↑ About Mitsubishi. mitsubishi.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  2. ↑ Mitsubishi.com Committee
  3. ↑ The Mitsubishi Mark
  4. ↑ Odagiri, Hiroyuki (1996). Technology and Industrial Development in Japan. Oxford University Press. p. 76. ISBN 0-19-828802-6. 
  5. ↑ "The History of Mitsubishi Group". GearHeads. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2012. 
  6. ↑ ZNet |Japan | Mitsubishi, Historical Revisionism and Japanese Corporate Resistance to Chinese Forced Labor Redress
  7. ↑ Hastings, Max (2007). Retribution. New York: Vintage. p. 413. ISBN 978-0-307-27536-3. 
  8. ↑ Reuters (18 January 2013). "Mitsubishi Corp to launch $197 million takeover bid for Yonekyu". Reuters. 
  9. ↑ "Mitshubishi Pencils". Mitshubishi site. Retrieved June 25, 2012. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi.
Big 4 Zaibatsu (preceding World War II)
Second tier zaibatsu (preceding WWII)
Big 6 Keiretsu (until roughly 10 years after Japan bubble ended in 1991)
Transitionary Keiretsu
  • UFJ (originated from Sanwa Group, later renamed to "Midori Kai")
Current Groups
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