Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi is the name for a large group of related Japanese companies that share the Mitsubishi brand name. The first Mitsubishi company was a shipping firm that Yataro Iwasaki established in 1870. In 1873 it took the name Mitsubishi Shokai (三菱商会). The name Mitsubishi (三菱) means three rhombi, which is reflected in the company's logo.That company soon diversified into coal mining, 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.
At the start of the 20th century the company, which by itself accounted for over half of the Japanese merchant fleet, entered into a period of diversification that would eventually result in the creation of three entities:
- Mitsubishi Bank was founded in 1919. After its merger with Bank of Tokyo in 1996, this became Japan's largest bank.
- Mitsubishi Corporation, founded in 1893, serves the internal financing needs of the group
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which includes these Industrial companies.
- Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, the 4th largest Japanese auto manufacturer.
- Mitsubishi Atomic Industry, a nuclear power company.
- Mitsubishi Chemical, the largest Japanese chemicals company
- Nikon, a well-known brand of photographic equipment.
Mitsubishi has been criticized for some of its corporate practices, most notably with respect to workplace discrimination and environmental pollution. A disgruntled former employee, Kamal Sinha, has started a website called Mitsubishi Watch to report such complaints.
| Table of contents |
|
2 External links |
The Mitsubishi companies
Core members
These companies are members of the Mitsubishi Kinyokai (or Friday Club), and meet monthly.Related Organizations
External links