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History |
Bridgestone founder Shojiro Ishibashi (1889-1976). |
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Shojiro Ishibashi had a vision. He dreamed of supplying his nation's new automobile industry with tires developed and manufactured with Japanese capital and Japanese expertise. Ishibashi, who was born on the southerly island of Kyushu in 1889, was inventive by nature. At the age of 18, he refocused the family business on footwear. He developed rubberized footwear to replace straw sandals on the feet of Japanese workers. His invention was phenomenally successful, and even bigger things lay ahead for the young entrepreneur.
Ishibashi created Japan's first locally developed tires in 1930. He established Bridgestone Tire Co., Ltd., in 1931 to manufacture and market the new product. From the beginning, he held international aspirations for his business, and he christened the company with an English-sounding name. The surname Ishibashi literally means stone bridge. Reversing the order produced a name that the founder hoped would feel more familiar to people of all nationalities.
 Bridgestone soon became the largest manufacturer of tires in Japan and expanded its business in other markets. The growth of Japan's automobile industry subsequently propelled us into the top ranks of the global tire and rubber industry. Following our 1988 acquisition of the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, we became the largest in our industry. |
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