Several Kongo Gumi workers, early 20th century.

Kongo Gumi Co., Ltd. (株式会社金剛組; Kabushiki Gaisha Kongo Gumi) is the world's oldest continuously-operating company. Headquartered in Osaka, the family-owned construction company has origins dating back to the year 593, when Prince Shotoku brought Kongo family members to Japan from Korea to build the Buddhist Shitennoji Temple, which still stands. Over the centuries, Kongo Gumi has participated in the construction of many famous buildings, including the 16th century Osaka Castle. Image File history File links Kongo. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the... Osaka Castle Location in Japan Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) Osaka railway station View from Osaka Castle. ... A company in the broadest sense is an aggregation of people who stay together for a common purpose. ... Events Empress Suiko ascends to the throne of Japan. ... Sculpture of Prince Shotoku in Asuka Dera, Asuka, Nara Prince Shōtoku (聖徳太子 574-622) was a regent and a politician of the Imperial Court in Japan. ... Korea is a country divided into two independent nations, South Korea and North Korea, whose people share history, language, and ethnicity. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Osaka Castle Osaka Castle (大坂城・大阪城; ÅŒsaka-jō) is a castle in Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan. ...

A 10-foot, 17th century scroll traces the 39 generations back to the company's start. As with many distinguished Japanese families, sons-in-law often joined the clan and took the Kongo family name. Thus, through the years, the line has continued through either sons or daughters. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...

Today, the company has over 100 employees and an annual revenue of $70 million; it still specializes in building Buddhist temples. The president is currently Masakazu Kongo, the 40th Kongo to lead the firm.

External link

Kongo Gumi Co., Ltd. (in Japanese)