Fuji Electric has deep roots, dating back 36 years to a crucial meeting before the company was founded. This meeting took place between Ichibei Furukawa and Hermann Kessler.
Ichibei Furukawa was an influential businessman, often referred to as "the copper king of the Meiji era". He firmly established the foundations of the Furukawa Group. On the other side, Hermann Kessler represented Siemens. At the time, this German company was the undisputed leader of the global electronics industry. Kessler, as an electrical engineer, was an essential agent of this leading body.
In 1887, Kessler wanted to establish a foothold in Japan thanks to the Ashio copper mine, managed by Ichibei, which was difficult to access because it was located deep in the mountains. While researching mining conditions in Japan, Kessler enthusiastically explained to Ichibei what electricity was, and commented on the features of his company's products.
Listening to Kessler, Ichibei set out to open up a new era with knowledge gained abroad and mining development technology.
Ichibei was able to develop his business. An entrepreneur, he immediately signed a contract to sell electrical equipment for the copper mine with a man he had never met before, and a foreigner at that. He ordered a generator and a boiler, which earned him the reputation as a pioneer of electrolysis in Japan.
The following year, he built Japan's first hydroelectric power plant, embodying our current slogan, "Innovating Energy Technology."
Siemens then expanded and created a Japanese company.
August 29, 1923 marks an important date for Fuji Electric. At the time, the world was in the throes of the post-World War I Great Depression, involving rigorous negotiations and aggressive rivalries. Despite these challenges, two companies stood out: Furukawa Electric Co. and Siemens.
The two companies braved these challenges and entered into a capital and technical alliance. This visionary collaboration paved the way for the creation of Fuji Electric Manufacturing Co, Ltd, now known as Fuji Electric Co, Ltd.
The deep connection between these two companies is even expressed in the name: Fuji comes from the "Fu" of Furukawa and the "Ji" of "Siemens" (like the German "Z" sound in Japanese).
