Built to Last: Continuity in Japanese Genetics
9th August 2022
Ten companies exist on the planet today that were founded before 1000 AD. Seven of those are Japanese, the oldest being Kong? Gumi, a construction firm founded by three craftsmen from Korea who took a commission from Prince Sh?toku in 578 AD. Sh?toku was the great early patron of Japanese Buddhism and was responsible for constructing the Shitenn?-ji temple, Japan’s oldest Buddhist house of worship (still in operation, image above). The Kong? clan continued to operate their family firm for centuries, contributing for example to the construction of Osaka Castle in the 1500’s. In the early 2000’s, a scion of this business dynasty, Masakazu Kong?, was still Kong? Gumi’s CEO. But his poor business decisions finally led to its acquisition by a larger firm in 2006. No pressure, Masakazu-san.