Shinise Phenomenon - Traditional Establishments of Japan

Japan is a traditional country, and many businesses have been in the family for many, many generations. Some establishments have been in operation for over 1000 years. In this article, we are going to talk about these traditional businesses that have been given the name of Shinise.

Shinise is a Japanese phenomenon referring to companies that were founded many years ago, usually before World War II. They tend to be very old but are still operating, sometimes after several generations.

Throughout history, old companies have been recognized for their reliability in carrying out their traditional businesses, but we can also observe a trend that their management models tend to be conservative.

These old companies are usually in traditional sectors, such as beverage, sweets and Japanese biscuit manufacturing. Others are restaurants, hotels, department stores and other types of fabrications.

We also recommend reading:

• Ryokan - The charming Japanese inns
• Imperial Japan History - World War II and Fall
• Kimono - All about traditional Japanese clothing

The importance of long-standing establishments

Long standing businesses are very important to Japan as they are a testament to the country's history and culture. In addition to having great symbolic value, these businesses represent the longevity, stability and resistance of the Japanese over the centuries.

During the Heisei recession, we saw rapid growth of businesses catering to the needs of end consumers such as niche markets. Such companies have survived by offering superior services and products to the Japanese people.

According to data from 2007, there are more than 21,000 companies in Japan with more than 100 years of foundation, and more than 3,000 with more than 200 years. In 2017, that number rose to 33,069 companies.

It is common to find kimono shops founded since the Edo era, but many of them have grown into large stores and are still in business today.

The best-known example of old stores that originated as kimono stores is Mitsukoshi stores (founded in 1673). The oldest store in Japan is an Osaka construction company Kongo-gumi founded in the year 578.

One of the requirements for a company to be called Shinise is to have been in business for over 100 years. It is very likely that over the centuries, some businesses over 100 years old had their doors closed, but this is very difficult to calculate.

What does Shinise mean?老舗]

"Shinise" (老舗) is a Japanese word that means "old shop" or "traditional establishment." A good way to translate it would be "A long-established shop."

It can refer to a store or business that has been in business for many generations, with a long history and tradition. The word can also refer to an establishment that maintains a traditional look and feel.

Sometimes the term can encom pioneering organizations being in different businesses, even if they do not follow the same original branch, as in the case of Nintendo, which started out making Hanafuda decks, and then moved into the video game business.

Read also: Nintendo Character Names in Japanese – Mario and Smash

What makes a business last for generations?

There are several factors that can lead to a business lasting for generations and generations. Some of these factors include:

• High-quality products or services: maintaining high standards of quality in your products or services can help retain loyal customers and attract new ones.
• Innovation: being able to adapt to changes in the market and trends can help keep the business competitive and relevant.
• Strong leadership: strong and visionary leaders can help guide the business through challenges and opportunities.
• Strong values: maintaining strong values and a solid corporate culture can help sustain unity and commitment within the company.
• Financial planning: having good financial management, including saving for times of economic difficulty, can help keep the business stable.
• Familiarity with tradition: maintaining old traditions and techniques while adapting them to the modern world can help preserve the company's identity.
• Family succession: ing the business from generation to generation is a common practice in Japan and can help maintain continuity and stability in the business.
• History and tradition: Japan has a rich history and a strong tradition of craftsmanship and manual industries, ed down from generation to generation. Many of these ancient companies still dedicate themselves to these traditions and old techniques.
• Cultural values: Japanese culture emphasizes stability, loyalty, and continuity, which can be seen as an advantage for companies that last for generations.
• Government protection: the Japanese government has policies and programs to and protect old businesses.
• Religious beliefs: Japanese people believe that ancestors and ancestral spirits are important and must be respected. This may have contributed to the belief that ancient businesses are sacred and should be maintained.

1000 year old companies

This list is of companies founded more than 1000 years ago. These companies are commonly referred to as “1000-year companies” 「1000年企業」sennenkigyou.

According to a survey by Tokyo Shoko Research, there are currently 7 companies with a history of over 1000 years, plus two companies not listed in the survey, making a total of 9 companies:

• Kongo-gumi (金剛組), founded in 578, construction of wooden buildings, Osaka.
• Ikebukuro-Kado-kai, founded in 587, teaching tea ceremonies and art.
• Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan, founded in 705, hospitality.
• Furuya, founded in 717, hospitality.
• Zenko-ro, founded in 718, hospitality.
• Tanaka Issey, founded in 889, manufacturing religious utensils.
• Nakamura Yakushi-ji, founded in 970, construction of wooden buildings.
• Sankan, founded in 1000, hospitality.
• Ichimonjiya Kazufusa, founded in the year 1000, restaurant.

There must be some other establishments with a history of more than 1000 years, including individual stores, in Japan and other countries.

However, it is important to note that some of these establishments with a history of over 1000 years may have changed ownership or significantly altered their commercial activities over the years, the list just shown shows businesses that have remained in the family or in the niche for generations.

Japan's Longest Running Business List

There are hundreds of companies that date back to 1800-1900 and are still in operation today, but we want to list the oldest ones that go back to before 1600.

Japanese candy factories

• 1000 (一文字屋和輔) Ichimonjiya Wasuke
• 1184 (藤戸饅頭本舗) Fujido Manjū honpo
• 1327 (紅蓮屋心月庵) Gōrenya Shinku an
• 1329 (かん袋) Kan fukuro
• 1333 (黒田千年堂) Kurōda Sennen dō
• 1349 (塩瀬総本家) Kan se Sōhonke
• 1421 (亀屋陸奥) Kameya Matsu ō
• 1461 (駿河屋) Suruga ya
• 1477 (水田玉雲堂) Mizuta Tamakudō
• 1502 (平戸蔦屋) Hirado Tsuta ya
• 1503 (川端道喜) Kawabata Dōki
• 1520 (虎屋) Tora ya
• 1532 (本家小嶋) Honke Kojima
• 1550 (笹井屋) Sasai ya
• 1562 (太田屋半右衛門) Ōta ya Hannyemon
• 1565 (太閤餅) Taiko mochi
• 1575 (柳屋奉善) Yanagi ya Hōzen
• 1576 (玉英堂) Gyokuyingado
• 1584 (五太夫きくや) Gotaifu Kikuyaya
• 1585 (本家菊屋) Honke Kikuyaya
• 1587 (如水庵) Taira no An
• 1587 (長五郎餅本舗) Chogoro Mochi Honpo
• 1592 (大杉屋惣兵衛) Oosugi Ya Sohei
• 1592 (翁飴本舗 桔梗屋) Ogami Mochi Honpo Kikyo Ya
• 1596 (大寺餅河合堂) Daishi Mochi Kawai Do
• 1597 (桑名屋) Kuwana Ya
• 1599 (みなとや幽霊子育飴本舗) Minatoya Yuurei Ko Ichiyaki Honpo

Hotels and Ryokan

• 705 (西山温泉慶雲館 ) - Nishiyama Onsen Keiun-kan
• 717 (千年の湯 古まん) - Sennen no yu furuman
• 718 (善吾楼) - Zen'gōrō
• 1075 (雪国の宿 高半) - Yukiguni no yado Takahashi
• 1134 (夏油温泉) - Natsu-abura Onsen
• 1184 (ホテル佐勘) - Hotel Sankan
• 1191 (有馬温泉 奥の坊) - Arima Onsen Okuno-bō
• 1191 (陶泉 御所坊) - Tōzen Gosho-bō
• 1192 (よしのや依緑園) - Yoshinoya Iridō-en
• 1311 (のとや) - Noto-ya
• 1312 (東屋旅館 ) - Tōya Ryokan
• 1428 (佐久ホテル) - Saku Hotel
• 1428 (湯主一條) - Yunagi-no-yado
• 1502 (千明仁泉亭) - Sennō Jinsen-tei
• 1536 (和泉屋旅館 (栃木県)) - Izumi-ya Ryokan Tochigi-ken
• 1546 (湯元 不忘閣) - Yugen Fubō-kaku
• 1551 (板室温泉大黒屋) - Itamuro Onsen Daikokuyama-ya
• 1560 (時音の宿 湯主一條) - Toki-ne no yado Yunagi-no-yado
• 1561 (山県館) - Yama-ken-kan
• 1563 (四万たむら ) - Shimantamura
• 1576 (岸権旅館) - Kishi Ken Ryokan
• 1578 (ランプの宿) - Lamp no Yu
• 1591 (ホテル木暮) - Hotel Kimokaze
• 1596 (湯守 玉林房) - Yumori Tama Rinbo
• 1599 (爽神堂七山病院) - Soushindo Nanzan Byouin
• 1599 (草津温泉 望雲) - Kusatsu Onsen Moongaze
• 1600 (古久屋) - Furuya

Sake factory and sale

• 1141 (須藤本家) - Sudō Honke
• 1487 (飛良泉本舗) - Hira-izumi Manpō
• 1505 (剣菱酒造) - Ken-shō-shuzō
• 1532 (山路酒造) - Yamaji Shuzō
• 1534 (冨田酒造) - Tomita Shuzō
• 1540(酒千蔵野) - Sake Sen-no-no
• 1548 (吉乃川) - Yoshinogawa
• 1550 (小西酒造) - Konishi Shuzō
• 1558 (上田酒造) - Ueda Shuzō
• 1592 (名門サカイ) - Meimon Sakai
• 1593 (小屋酒造) - Koya Sakezou
• 1596 (豊島屋本店) - Toshima Ya Honten
• 1597 (龍神酒造) - Ryujin Sakezou
• 1597 (小島醸造) - Kojima Jozou
• 1597 (小嶋総本店) - Kojima Sohonten

Pharmaceutical industry

• 1319 (三光丸) - Sankō- maru
• 1368 (ういろう) - Uiro
• 1570 (伊勢くすり本舗) - Ise Kusuri- honpo
• 1579 (中屋彦十郎薬舗) - Nakaya Hikojuro Yakuhin
• 1597 (宇津救命丸) - Utsu Kyuumeiwan
• 1598 (和歌の浦井本薬房) - Waka no Urai Honyakufu
• 1600 (川又薬局) - Kawamatsu Yakkyoku

Others

• 578 (Kongō-gumi) - Kongō-gumi - Construction industry
• 771 (Motoda Kami-gyō) - Motoda Kami-gyō - Paper box manufacturing
• 885 (Tanaka Ima Hōgu-ten) - Tanaka Ima Hōgu- ten - accessories for Buddhist altars
• 970 (Nakamura Shrine) - Nakamura Shrine - Construction industry
• 1024 (朱宮神仏具店) - Shukyō Hōgu- ten - accessories for Buddhist altars
• 1160 (通圓) - Tsūen - tea manufacturing
• 1184 (菊岡漢方薬局) - Kikuka Kanpō Yaku Kyoku - Pharmacy trade
• 1189 (伊藤鉄工) - Itō Tetsu- kō - Foundry → + Machining → Machining [55]
• 1337 (Maruya Hachidō Miso) - Maruya Hachidō miso - miso
• 1346 (高田装束) - Takada Sōzoku - clothing manufacturing
• 1392 (Matsumae-ya) - Matsumae-ya - seafood
• 1395 (鉛市) - Namiji - chemical industry
• 1462 (センキヤ) - Senkiya - tea production
• 1465 (Honke Owari-ya) - Honke Owari-ya - Restaurant
• 1501 (復古堂) - Fukkō-dō - brush manufacturing
• 1534 (Matsuoka- ya Jōzō- jō) - Matsuoka- ya Jōzō- jō - Fermented food production
• 1547 (Kuniyuki Kyūtarō Store) - Kuniyuki Kyūtarō- shōten - gunpowder manufacturing
• 1550 (Monoya Isuke) - Obi Production
• 1554 (名エン) - Meien - salt industry
• 1555 (千切屋治兵衛) - Chigiri-ya Jirōbei- shōten - Kimono wholesale manufacturer
• 1555 (千總) - Chizō - clothing manufacture
• 1558 (Kaiko-dō) - Kaiko-dō - Painting
• 1559 (Urayama Shunshō Main Store) - Tea Production - tea manufacturing
• 1560 (ナベヤ (企業)) - Nabe- ya (company) - Metal processing industry
• 1560 (Okamoto (casting)) - steel industry
• 1560 (戸谷八商店) - Toya Hachiman- shōten - sale of ceramics
• 1560 (有次) - Ari- tsu - kitchen knives
• 1560 (長谷木) - Haseki - office rental business
• 1563 (Kojiya (Gunma Prefecture)) - Kōya (Gunma-ken) - miso
• 1566 (西川) - Nishikawa - bed linens
• 1568 (吉字屋本店) - Yoshizawa Honten - oil industry
• 1572 (Yoshida Gen-nōjō-rō-ten) - accessories for Buddhist altars
• 1573 (ナカノ) - Nakano - wholesale fresh fish
• 1573 (Ueda Gobei- shōten) - Ueda Gobei- shōten - chemical industry
• 1573 (Ōtsu-ya) - Ōtsu-ya - convenience store
• 1573 (室次) - Muro-tsu - soy sauce production
• 1573 (细字印判店) - Sosozō- inpanto- ten - stamp production
• 1575 (Hamada-ya Japan) - Hamada-ya Japan - Painting
• 1575 (目細八郎兵衛商店) - Mehosiro- hachirōbei- shōten - hairpin manufacturing
• 1576 (山ばな平八茶屋) - Yamabana Heihachaya - Restaurant
• 1577 (Old Plum Garden) - Kumeen - Ink manufacturing
• 1577 (湊與) - Minato Yo - wholesale of fresh fish
• 1578 (とみひろ) - Tomihiro - Wholesale kimono manufacturer
• 1579 (木倉や) - Kikura Ya - Quimono
• 1580 (ヒガシマル醤油) - Higashimaru Shoyu - soy sauce production
• 1582 (Inchuan Ya) - leather industry
• 1582 (尾道造酢) - Omote Zou - vinegar production
• 1582 (波多野塗料) - Hatanono Nuriya - paint manufacturing
• 1582 (Tamawarya) - Tamawarya - Udon
• 1582 (Minowa Shikko) - Minowa Shikko - Painting
• 1582 (香十) - Kouju - incense manufacturing
• 1584 (ヤマトインテック) - Yamato Intec - Metal processing industry
• 1584 (ゑり善) - Eri Zen - clothing manufacturing
• 1585 (Merukurosu) - Merukurosu - daily needs
• 1585 (Tea of Tenseien) - Cha no Tenseien - tea production
• 1586 (Koyama Shotenkougyousho) - Koyama Shotenkougyousho - construction work
• 1586 (松井建設) - Matsui Kensetsu - Construction Industry
• 1587 (礒野産業) - Isono Sangyou - real estate business
• 1588 (オケカ厨熱) - Okeka Chukanetsu - Equipment construction company
• 1590 (伊場仙) - Iba Sen - Leques
• 1590 (Sumitomo Group) - Sumitomo Group - Mining *Currently a business group
• 1591 (Yamasha (Hiroshima Prefecture)) - household goods
• 1592 (祢ざめ家) - Nizameya - Restaurant
• 1593 (山本屋種苗店) - Yamamoto Ya Shumokuten - Production and sale of seedlings
• 1594 (薫玉堂) - Kaori Tama Do - incense manufacturing
• 1594 (藤野屋商店) - Fujiya Shouten - Manufacture and sale of fertilizers
• 1596 (タキモ商店) - Takimo Shouten - food wholesale
• 1596 (タゼン) - Tazen - Gas equipment
• 1596 (Ganso Chingoya) - Ganso Chingoya - Restaurant
• 1598 (中里茂右エ門窯) - Nakazato Shigeuemon Kiln - ceramic production
• 1598 (Shinju Kan) - Shinju Kan - ceramic manufacturing
• 1598 (綿半グループ) - Watanoha Group - Construction industry
• 1599 (京林) - Kyōrin - Kimono
• 1599 (爽神堂七山病院) - Soushindo Nanzan Hospital - hospital
• 1599 (馬居化成工業) - Maike Kassei Kogyo - chemical industry
• 1600 (木村新造装束店) - Kimura Shinsouzoku Shukuten - clothing manufacturing