From Our Founding Spirit to the Future We Create
Hitachi was founded in 1910 as a repair shop for mining machinery in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. At the time, Japan was still heavily dependent on foreign products and technology. However, founder Namihei Odaira believed in his and his peers' technological capabilities and built a team that continued to take on the challenge of manufacturing with tireless effort and inexhaustible passion.
“Contribute to society through the development of superior, original technology and products.”
This aspiration, which was the driving force of that team, is the origin of the Hitachi Group and has become its Mission. This spirit, together with Hitachi's founding values of "Harmony", "Sincerity", and "Pioneering Spirit", cherished by our predecessors for realizing our Mission, has been faithfully carried on through the years and is being shared by colleagues around the world.
We will continue to pursue technological innovation and work to resolve the challenges faced in society in order to open up a better future.
1910 - 1960
From a Mining Repair Shop to a Resilient Beginning
Hitachi's history began in a small mining repair shop in 1910. With an unwavering desire to contribute to society by manufacturing electrical machinery through its own efforts and to develop Japan's machinery industry, Hitachi's first product was a 5-horsepower induction motor. In the years ahead, Hitachi faced numerous hardships, including accidents, factory fires, earthquakes, and the ravages of war. However, each was overcome with an indomitable spirit that gradually gained the trust of society. Hitachi then expanded its business and grew rapidly into one of Japan's leading electrical manufacturers.
1961 - 1980
Supporting High Economic Growth
Contributing to the Development of Social Infrastructure
During the 1960s, Japan entered a period of high economic growth. Hitachi participated in the development and production of Shinkansen (bullet train), achieving speeds of 200 km/h. Anticipating future potential, the company also entered the fledgling computer industry and developed Japan's first domestically produced large-scale computer, strengthening its electronics business. It continued expanding its business and evolved into a leading electronics manufacturer with a diverse business portfolio.
1981 - 2000
Driving Structural Reform to Build a Stronger, More Integrated Business
In addition to leaps in "IT" such as mainframe computers and semiconductors, since the 1980s, Hitachi has continued to create a series of innovative technologies in the "OT" and "products" sectors. In order to respond quickly to accelerating globalization, the company implemented large-scale business structure reforms and strengthened research and development, establishing a resilient foundation.
2001 -
Expanding Our Social Innovation Business Globally
By integrating strengths related to "IT," "OT," and "products" cultivated over decades, Hitachi made a major shift toward its "Social Innovation Business" with digital technology at the core. In 2016, Hitachi launched "Lumada," leveraging its proprietary digital technologies to accelerate its global expansion. By creating value from data, Hitachi is advancing as a leader in resolving complex social issues worldwide.
