Uchikura & Co., LLC

A Company Older Than Islam

 

Here is an interesting piece of history that many people outside Japan do not know.

 

There is a construction company in Japan called Kongō Gumi, and it is widely recognized as the oldest continuously operating company in the world.

 

The company was founded in 578 AD in Osaka. Its original purpose was to build the Buddhist temple Shitennō-ji, one of the oldest temples in Japan.

 

Now here is the surprising part.

 

Islam began around 610 AD, when Muhammad received the first revelations that later became the Qur'an.

 

That means Kongō Gumi was already operating more than 30 years before Islam began.

 

Think about what that means in terms of history. This company existed before the rise of Islam, before many European nations were formed, and long before the modern idea of corporations even existed.

 

For more than 1,400 years, Kongō Gumi specialized in building and repairing Buddhist temples. The company was passed down through generations of the same family for about 40 generations, preserving traditional Japanese carpentry techniques and craftsmanship.

 

In 2006, the company became part of Takamatsu Construction Group after financial difficulties, but the name and legacy of Kongō Gumi continue.

 

Very few companies survive even 100 years. Many do not survive 20 years.

 

Yet in Japan, there was a company that operated for nearly 1,450 years.

 

When people talk about sustainability in business, this is the kind of example that truly puts things into perspective.