In Japan, ''shinise'' (, ) are long-established businesses that have been in operation for a long time, at least for a hundred years. Some are older than a thousand years. Japan has significantly more very old businesses than other countries, and they and their products enjoy a particular prestige in Japan.

Characteristics

Long-established companies are particularly common in Japan, which is home to over half of the world's companies that are older than 200 years. As of 2020, the country had more than 33,000 ''shinise'', of which 3,100 were older than 200 years, 140 older than 500 years and at least 19 who say that they have been operating for over 1,000 years. ''Shinise'' are a source of national and regional pride, and are the subject of governmental promotion, business management books and travel guides. Frequently, ''shinise'' are relatively small family businesses guided by a particular set of principles (''kakun''). These principles tend to emphasize continuity, tradition, longstanding business relationships, sticking to the

core business The core business of an organization is an idealized construct intended to express that organization's "main" or "essential" activity. Core business process means that a business's success depends not only on how well each department performs its ...

, accumulating cash reserves and avoiding debt and other risk. This limits growth but helps the companies weather even severe crises. Some ''shinise'', however, have grown to be leading players in their fields, such as the video game maker

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...

or the general contractor Takenaka. The prevalence of ''shinise'' in Japan is attributed to the particularities of

Japanese culture The culture of Japan has changed greatly over the millennia, from the country's prehistoric Jōmon period, to its contemporary modern culture, which absorbs influences from Asia and other regions of the world. Historical overview The ance ...

, such as reverence for traditions and one's ancestors, and

Japanese history The first human inhabitants of the Japanese archipelago have been traced to prehistoric times around 30,000 BC. The Jōmon period, named after its cord-marked pottery, was followed by the Yayoi period in the first millennium BC when new invent ...

, such as the country's relatively long global isolation prior to the 19th century. To ensure familial continuity, ''shinise'' owners without children of their own sometimes

adopt Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from ...

one of their male employees. One effect of the high prestige that ''shinise'' enjoy in Japan is that

startups A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an Entrepreneurship, entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship refers to all new businesses, including self-employment and businesses t ...

are less respected or appreciated than elsewhere.

''Shinise'' products

Buying something from a ''shinise'' imparts particular prestige in Japan, connoting the "pinnacle of taste". This Japanese preference for ''shinise'' is distinguished from the appreciation most societies have for

luxury goods In economics, a luxury good (or upmarket good) is a good for which demand increases more than what is proportional as income rises, so that expenditures on the good become a greater proportion of overall spending. Luxury goods are in contrast to n ...

in that it does not only include expensive, long-lasting items such as cars and watches, but also everyday objects and food. This consumer preference may have roots in Japanese society's predilection for conformity, which makes it so that somebody who owns a ''shinise'' item is certain not to be ridiculed for it, and frequently respected. As a result,

brand loyalty In marketing, brand loyalty describes a consumer's positive feelings towards a brand, and their dedication to purchasing the brand's products and/or services repeatedly, regardless of deficiencies, a competitor's actions, or changes in the envir ...

to ''shinise'' is often intense, which in turn helps these companies survive for a long time.

List of ''shinise''

This list aims to include all ''shinise'' founded before 1600, and selected

notable Notability is the property of being worthy of notice, having fame, or being considered to be of a high degree of interest, significance, or distinction. It also refers to the capacity to be such. Persons who are notable due to public responsibi ...

younger ''shinise''. {, class="wikitable" !Company !Location !Business !Date of establishment !Ref. , - ,

Kongō Gumi is a Japanese construction company. In January 2006, after falling on difficult times, it became a subsidiary of the Takamatsu Construction Group.

Osaka, Osaka is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third most populous city in Ja ...

Construction Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations,"Construction" def. 1.a. 1.b. and 1.c. ''Oxford English Dictionary'' Second Edition on CD-ROM (v. 4.0) Oxford University Press 2009 and com ...

, 578 , , - , Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan ,

Hayakawa, Yamanashi 270px, Hayakawa Town Hall is a town located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 10,679 in 610 households, and a population density of 28.9 persons per km2. The total area of the town is . It has the smallest ...

, Hot spring hotel , 705 , , - , Koman ,

Toyooka, Hyōgo is a city in the northern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 78,348 in 37769 households and a population density of 110 persons per km².The total area of the city is . Geography Toyooka is located in ...

, Hotel , 717 , , - ,

Hōshi Ryokan is a ryokan (Japanese traditional inn) founded in 718 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. It has been owned and managed by the Hoshi family for forty-six generations and was thought to be the oldest operating hotel in the world until Nishiyama On ...

Ishikawa Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu island. Ishikawa Prefecture has a population of 1,140,573 (31 October 2019) and has a geographic area of 4,186 km2 (1,616 sq mi). Ishikawa Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture to ...

, Hotel , 718 , , - ,

Genda Shigyō Genda Shigyō ( ja, 源田紙業株式会社, translit=Genda Shigyō Kabushiki gaisha) is a Japanese paper production company which has produced ceremonial paper goods such as ''mizuhiki,'' gift wrapping and betrothal gifts since 771. It is often ...

Kyoto, Kyoto Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...

, Ceremonial paper goods , 771 , , - , Tanaka Iga Butsugu ,

, Buddhist religious goods , 885 , , - ,

Nakamura Shaji Nakamura Shaji ( ja, 株式会社中村社寺, ''Kabushiki Gaisha Nakamura Shaji'') is a Japanese construction company located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan and is continuously working from 970. It is the second oldest Japanese construction compan ...

, Ichinomiya, Aichi , Construction , 970 , , - ,

Ichimonjiya Wasuke is a traditional confectionery company located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It was established in the year 1000 and is operated by the 25th generation of the same family. The recent building is about 300 years old and contains many benches and sto ...

Confectionery Confectionery is the art of making confections, which are food items that are rich in sugar and carbohydrates. Exact definitions are difficult. In general, however, confectionery is divided into two broad and somewhat overlapping categories ...

, 1000 , , - , Shumiya-Shinbutsuguten , , Religious goods , 1024 , , - ,

Takahan Ryokan Takahan Ryokan is a historic ryokan (Japanese inn) located in Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The inn is over 800 years old. The inn has an onsen (bath) called "Tamago no Yu" (English: egg-water) that is supplied by natural hot springs with a s ...

Yuzawa, Niigata is a Towns of Japan, town located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 7,926, and a population density of 22.2 persons per km2. The total area of the town was . The town is famous for its onsen, hot springs. ...

, Hotel , 1075 , , - ,

Geto Onsen Geto Onsen is a traditional ryokan (inn), ryokan (Japanese inn) with "onsen" - natural hot spring baths. It was founded in 1134 and is located in Kitakami, Iwate, Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The area is in the center of Kurikoma Quasi-Nat ...

Kitakami, Iwate is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 92,311, and a population density of 210 persons per km2 in 37,085 households. The total area of the city is . The city is famous for the sakura that bloo ...

, Hotel , 1134 , , - ,

Sudo Honke is a Japanese manufacturer of sake headquartered in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture. Founded in 1141, and run by the 55th generation of the Sudo family, it is the oldest sake brewery in Japan and one of the oldest companies in the world.Jun HongoNuk ...

Kasama, Ibaraki is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 73,805 in 29,362 households and a population density of 307 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 32.2%. The total area of t ...

, Sake , 1141 , , - ,

Tsuen Tea is the oldest tea house in the world, founded in 1160 in Uji city, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is also the 13th oldest company in Japan, and the 30th oldest in the world, appearing on the List of oldest companies. Located across from Uji St ...

Uji, Kyoto is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. ...

, Teahouse , 1160 , , - , Gorobee Ame , , Confectionery , 1177–1180 , , - , , , Confectionery , 1184 , , - , Kikuoka ,

Nara, Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture, Japan. As of 2022, Nara has an estimated population of 367,353 according to World Population Review, making it the largest city in Nara Prefecture and sixth-largest in the Kansai region of Honshu. Nara is ...

, Herbs , 1184 , , - ,

Sakan Ryokan Sakan Ryokan or "Hotel Sakan" (ホテル佐勘) is an historic Ryokan (Japanese inn), ryokan (Japanese inn) located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The inn is over 1,000 years old, and is located within the spa resort named "Akiu Spa," which ...

Sendai, Miyagi is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in the Tōhoku region. , the city had a population of 1,091,407 in 525,828 households, and is one of Japan's 20 designated cities. The city was founded in 1600 by the ''daimyō'' Date ...

, Hotel , 1184 , , - , Ito Tekko , , Metalworking , 1189 , , - , Shirasagiyu Tawaraya ,

Kaga, Ishikawa is a city located in southwestern Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 67,793 in 29054 households, and a population density of 290 persons per km². The total area of the city was . Geography Kaga is located in ...

, Hotel , 1190 , , - , Kotabe Foundry ,

Sakuragawa, Ibaraki 260px, Cherry Blossoms of Sakuragawa is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 39,072 in 13,721 households and a population density of 217 persons per km². The percentage of the population aged o ...

, Foundry , 1190–1199 , , - ,

Tosen Goshobo Tosen Goshobō (Japanese: 陶泉御所坊) is a historic 20-room ryokan (Japanese inn) in Arima Onsen, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The location has a history spanning over 800 years as a place for lodging (since the 12th century) and has onsen ...

Kobe, Hyōgo Kobe ( , ; officially , ) is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture Japan. With a population around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located in Kansai region, which ...

, Hotel , 1191 , , - , Arima Onsen Okunobo , , Hotel , 1191 , , - , Yoshinoya Irokuen ,

, Hotel , 1192 , , - , Notoya , , Hotel , 1311 , , - , Higashiya , , Hotel , 1312 , , - ,

Sankogan Sankogan is the oldest Japanese pharmacy producer with continuous run founded in 1319. It is located in Gose city, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The products were made using herbal medicine plants green gentian, licorice, philodendron bark, cinnamon, ...

, , Pharmacy , 1319 , , - , , , Confectionery , 1327 , , - , Kanbukuro , , Confectionery , 1329 , , - , Kuroda Sennendo , , Confectionery , Bef. 1333 , , - , Maruya Hatchomiso , , Miso , 1337 , , - , Takata , , Textiles , 1346 , , - , , , Confectionery , 1349 , , - , , , Pharmacy , 1368 , , - , Matsumaeya , , Seaweed , 1392 , , - , Namariichi , , Chemicals , 1395 , , - , Kameya Mutsu , , Confectionery , 1421 , , - ,

Saku Saku may refer to: Places *Saku, Nagano, a city in Japan *Saku, Nagano (Minamisaku), a town in Japan *Saku Parish, a rural municipality in Harju County, Estonia **Saku, Estonia, a small borough in Saku Parish, Harju County, Estonia *Saku Constituen ...

, , Hotel , 1428 , , - , Yunushi Ichijoh , , Hotel , 1428 , , - , , , Confectionery , 1461 , , - , Senkiya , , Tea , 1462 , , - , Owariya , , Restaurant , 1465 , , - ,

Inoue Inoue (kanji: , historical kana orthography: ''Winouhe'') is the 16th most common Japanese surname. Historically, it was also romanized as Inouye, and many Japanese-descended people outside of Japan still retain this spelling. A less common vari ...

, , Tea , 1467 , , - , Mizuta Gyokuundo , , Confectionery , 1477 , , - ,

Hiraizumi is a town located in Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 7,408 and a population density of in 2,616 households. The total area of the town was . It is noted for the Historic Monuments and Sit ...

, , Sake , 1487 , , - , Fukkodo , , Brushes , 1501 , , - , Tsutaya , , Confectionery , 1502 , , - , Chigira Jinsentei , , Hotel , 1502 , , - , , , Confectionery , 1503 , , - , Ishiga Honten , , Religious goods , 1504–1520 , , - , , , Sake , Bef. 1505 , , - , Toraya , , Confectionery , Abt. 1520 , , - , Yamaji , , Sake , 1532 , , - , Honke Kojima , , Confectionery , 1532 , , - , Matsuokaya , , Sauce , 1534 , , - , , , Sake , 1534 , , - , Izumiya Ryokan , , Hotel , 1536 , , - , Shusen Kurano , , Sake , 1540 , , - , Fubokaku , , Hotel , 1546 , , - , Kunitomo Kyutaro , , Gunpowder , 1547 , , - ,

Yoshinogawa 290px, Tokushima Prefectural Road Route 244 in Yoshinogawa 290px, Fujii-dera wisteria is a city located in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 39,150 in 17958 households and a population density of 270 persons ...

, , Sake , 1548 , , - , , , Sake , 1550 , , - , Sasaiya , , Confectionery , 1550 , , - , Izeki , , Clothing , 1550 , , - , Daikokuya , , Food , 1551 , , - , Meien , , Salt , 1554 , , - , Chiso , , Clothing , 1555 , , - , , , Clothing , 1555 , , - , Kaikodo , , Lacquerware , Bef. 1558 , , - , , , Tea , 1558 , , - , Ueda , , Sake , 1558 , , - ,

Aritsugu Aritsugu is a Japanese knife and cooking utensil producer and store, founded by Fujiwara Aritsugu in 1560. It is one of the oldest knifemakers in Japan. Aritsugu was involved in the production of swords and was appointed a supplier for the I ...

, , Knives (originally swords) , 1560 , , - ,

Nabeya Bi-tech Kaisha , also known as NBK, is a machine component parts manufacturer located in Seki, Gifu, Japan. The company's roots date to 1560, when it began as a metal foundry casting pots, tea kettles and temple bells. History NBK’s history dates to 1560, wh ...

Seki, Gifu is a city located in Gifu, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 89,020 and a population density of 190 persons per km2 in 35,366 households. The total area of the city was . Geography Seki is located in central Gifu Prefecture at th ...

, Machine parts (originally kettles, pots, and bells) , 1560 , , - ,

Okamoto Okamoto (written: 岡本 literally "hill base") is the 48th most common Japanese surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Anri Okamoto (born 1994), fashion model and an actress in Japan *Atsushi Okamoto (born 1981), professional Nippon ...

, , Iron , 1560 , , - , Hasemoku , , Real estate , 1560 , , - , Ichijoh , , Hotel , 1560 , , - , Toyahachi , , Pottery retail , 1560 , , - , Yamagatakan , , Hotel , 1561 , , - , Otaya Hanuemon , , Confectionery , 1562 , , - ,

Shima Tamura Shima Tamura is a traditional Japanese ryokan founded in 1563 and located near the Shima Onsen in Nakanojō town, Gunma Prefecture. Shima Onsen is one of the top onsens (hot spring baths) in Japan, because it can cure many diseases. See ...

, , Hotel , 1563 , , - , Kojiya , , Food , 1563 , , - , , , Confectionery , 1565 , , - , , , Beds , 1566 , , - , Kichijiya , , Oil , 1568 , , - , Suishodo , , Pharmacy , 1570 , , - , Isekusuri Honpo , , Pharmacy , 1570 , , - , Kikuhime , , Sake , 1570–1600 , , - , Yoshida Gennojo , , Religious goods , 1572 , , - , Hosoji Inbanten , , Stamps , 1573 , , - , Nakano , , Fish , 1573 , , - , , , Sauce , 1573 , , - , , , Retailing , 1573 , , - , Shintsu , , Building material , 1573–1592 , , - , Sonodaya , , Confectionery , 1573–1592 , , - , Kanbayashi , , Tea , 1573–1592 , , - , Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu , , Tea , 1573–1592 , , - , Ishikawa , , Stone , 1573–1592 , , - , Nikenjayamochi Kadoya , , Brewery , 1575 , , - , Meboso Hachirobee , , Fishing flies , 1575 , , - , Yanagiya Hozen , , Confectionery , 1575 , , - ,

Nippon Kodo Nippon Kodo () is a Japanese incense company who trace their origin back over 400 years to an incense maker known as Koju, who made incense for the Emperor of Japan. The Nippon Kodo Group was established in August 1965, and has acquired several ot ...

, , Incense , 1575 , , - , Heihachi Jaya , , Restaurant , 1576 , , - , Kishigon , , Hotel , 1576 , , - , Gyokueido , , Confectionery , 1576 , , - , Kobaien , , Ink , 1577 , , - , Mineyo , , Fish , 1577 , , - , Lamp no Yado , , Hotel , 1578 , , - , Tomihiro , , Clothing , 1578 , , - , Kiguraya , , Clothing , 1579 , , - , Nakaya , , Herbal medicine , 1579 , , - , Higashimaru , , Sauce , Abt.1580 , , - , Hatano Paint , , Paint , 1582 , , - , Indenya , , Leather , 1582 , , - , Koju , , Incense , 1582 , , - , Onomichizousu ,

Onomichi, Hiroshima is a city located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, facing the Inland Sea. The city was founded on April 1, 1898. As of April 30, 2016, the city has an estimated population of 141,811 and a population density of 497.8 persons per km2. The total are ...

, Vinegar , 1582 , , - , Tamaruya , , Udon noodles , 1582 , , - , Minowa , , Lacquerware , 1582 , , - , Godayu Kikuya , , Confectionery , 1584 , , - , Yamato Intec , , Metalworking , 1584 , , - , Kikuya , , Confectionery , 1585 , , - , Mercros , , Retailer , 1585 , , - , Tenshoen , , Tea , 1585 , , - , Matsui , , Construction , 1586 , , - , Oyama Shaji , , Construction , 1586 , , - , Chogoromochi , , Confectionery , 1587 , , - , Josuian , , Confectionery , 1587 , , - , Okeka , , Furnaces , 1588 , , - , Ibasen , , Fans , 1590 , , - , Kogure , , Hotel , 1591 , , - , Yamashina , , Utensil , 1591 , , - , Osugiya Sobee , , Confectionery , 1592 , , - , Meimon Sakai , , Sake , 1592 , , - , Kikyoya , , Confectionery , 1592 , , - , Nezameya , , Restaurant , 1592 , , - , Koya , , Sake , 1593 , , - , Yamamotoya , , Seed , 1593 , , - , Kungyokudo , , Incense , 1594 , , - , Fujinoya , , Fertilizer , 1594 , , - , Chojiya , , Restaurant , 1596 , , - , Toshimaya , , Sake , 1596 , , - , Takimo , , Food , 1596 , , - , Oteramochi Kawaido , , Confectionery , 1596 , , - , Tazen , , Metal , 1596 , , - , Gyokurinbo , , Hotel , 1596 , , - , Nagata Bunshodo , , Publisher , 1596–1615 , , - , Heirakuji , , Publisher , 1596–1615 , , - , Hayashikan , , Clothing , 1596–1615 , , - ,

Kojima Kojima may refer to: Surname * Kojima (surname) Places * Kōjima, an island known for wild monkeys in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan * Kojima, an uninhabited island belonging to the Tokara Islands, in the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japa ...

, , Sake , 1597 , , - , Kuwanaya , , Confectionery , 1597 , , - , Uzu Kyumeigan , , Pharmacy , 1597 , , - , Ryujin , , Sake , 1597 , , - , Chinjukan , , Pottery , 1598 , , - , Wakanoura Imoto , , Pharmacy , 1598 , , - , Watahan , , Construction , 1598 , , - , Nakazato Moemon , , Pottery , 1598 , , - , Minatoya Yurei-kosodate-ame , , Confectionery , Bef. 1599 , , - , Umai Chemical , , Chemicals (originally salt) , 1599 , , - , Boun , , Hotel , 1599 , , - , Kyorin , , Clothing , 1599 , , - , Shichiyama Hospital , , Hospital , 1599 , {{cite web , script-title=ja:歴史とともに歩む医療法人爽神堂七山病院 , url=http://ej.islib.jp/ejournal/1541101744.html , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226223632/http://ej.islib.jp/ejournal/1541101744.html , archive-date=February 26, 2014 , access-date=November 9, 2013 , publisher=Medical Finder , language=ja , - , Takenaka ,

, Construction , 1610 , , - , Gekkeikan ,

Sake Sake, also spelled saké ( ; also referred to as Japanese rice wine), is an alcoholic beverage of Japanese origin made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. Despite the name ''Japanese rice wine'', sake, and indee ...

and plum wine , 1637 , , - ,

, Video games (originally playing cards) , 1889 , , - ,

Kikkoman is a Japanese food manufacturer. Its main products and services include soy sauce, food seasoning and flavoring, mirin, , and sake, juice and other beverages, pharmaceuticals, and restaurant management services. Kikkoman has production plan ...

Noda, Chiba is a city located in the northwestern corner of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 154,114 in 69,191 households and a population density of 1500 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . The city is famous ...

Soy sauce Soy sauce (also called simply soy in American English and soya sauce in British English) is a liquid condiment of Chinese origin, traditionally made from a fermented paste of soybeans, roasted grain, brine, and '' Aspergillus oryzae'' or ''Asp ...

and other food , 1917 ,

References

Economy of Japan

Characteristics

''Shinise'' products

List of ''shinise''

See also

References