Kongo Gumi (‘construction company’)
Since Asuka Era, 6th Year of the Reign of Emperor Bidatsu
– Out of Business –
Family businesses here in Japan, were I am currently on duty, are very prominent. Back home in Minnesota, I am quite sure that I never met anyone who was the 15th CEO in the family enterprise. I have a number of acquaintances like that here though.
Well, this family business, builder of temples and shrine — and a few palaces and castles, Kongo Gumi, in Japan for 1428 years goes out of business. 1428 years! Now, to me, this is a major bummer!
As a ‘family business’, Kongo Gumi is ‘out of business’. They are not out of existence though, Kongo Gumi is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Takamatsu Corporation. It could be worse, I guess. Call me old fashioned, but I would rather a 1428 year old company not be a cog in the big wheel of just another publicly traded corporation. But, who knows, Takamatsu Corporation is an above average company.
Now, I am all for private business being private and all, but I think that someone should have bailed this company out. Like maybe in the government, or something like that.
Oh! Or, how about the Emperor? Maybe the Emperor should have bailed out the company? Ah, but he’s a cream-puff sissy. Not going to happen.
If the Emperor can’t do the honor, then I think I would like to nominate Mickey Mouse over at Tokyo Disneyland to do the job.
Come’on, the oldest continually operated family business in the world! There’s only one of these!
A little about the history of Kongo Gumi (and and ancient Japan):
Now this is one cool company, started by some Koreans brought over (not by force — this time) by none other than Prince Shotoku (Shotoku Taishi). Shotoku Taishi is the founder of ancient Japan. He was, by all acounts, a real poet warrior (in the classic sense). He’d order underlings to do things that had never been thought of before. Like, hey, you guys over there, you write down the history of our country while I sit over here and write our constitution. Constitution? They were like, this dude is nuts! Then after some time passed, they were like, this guy rules!! What’s more, he was the boss of Ono-no-Imoko* (wikipedia | Tokyo Gas TV CM).
I really love their company introduction page on their site:
Established: Asuka Era, 6th Year of the Reign of Emperor Bidatsu (578AD)
578: By order of Crown Prince Shotoku…(our company came into existence) our ancestors came of over from Korea and built, Shitenno-ji and Horyu-ji.
…
2006: Became a member of the GWA Group (A.K.A. wholly owned subsidiary of Takamatsu Corporation)
This is actually a really great article. Especially, the last paragraph, it’s got the outline for the secret sauce recipe gleaned with the wisdom of James Olan Hutcheson. Jimmy, over at Regeneration Partners, tells how the Kongo family managed to keep it together for more than 1400 years and outlast 11 historical periods of Japanese history.
the article is right this way:
BusinessWeek
*This dude, he was from the Country of Omi too. Here at RW, I can see his ‘hood right from my desk.
Charlie Rockwave
Rockwave Development Team
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