JAPAN'S RECIPE TOWARDS BUSINESS SUCCESS

Enduring or rather seemingly operations of many everlasting Japanese businesses have directed attention of the global business world towards them.

Believe it or not in Japan there is an operational construction company named Kongō Gumi, which was founded in 578 AD! Most probably, it is the oldest operational company in the world. Shitennō-ji temple in Osaka, built in the sixth century, is the 1446-year-old firm's first project. 

The world's oldest functioning hotel, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is in Japan. Its name is Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan hotel and it was founded in 705 AD! It was opened 1319 years ago in the Yamanashi Prefecture, outside Tokyo and it is still functioning.

It is baffling but true that in Japan, there are more than 50,000 companies, which are over 100 years old and of this 21 are more than thousand years old. This is astonishing to say the least, especially in today's volatile business climate, where it is impressive if a company survives for more than 50 years.

Long-term Vision

In Japan, the businesses which have survived for more than a century, while keeping ownership within the same family and continuing to operate in the same industry are known as shinise firms.

The success of so many Japanese companies over such an amazingly long period of time can and should inspire many entrepreneurs operating a business with the aim that it would stand the test of time.