Mitsubishi Corporation Explained

Mitsubishi Corporation
Native Name:三菱商事株式会社
Native Name Lang:ja
Romanized Name:Mitsubishi Shōji Kabushiki-gaisha
Former Name:Kowa Jitsugyo Kaisha
Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd.
Type:Public KK
Traded As:

Nikkei 225 component (8058)
TOPIX Core30 component (8058)
Foundation:Incorporated in
Refounded in 1954
Location City:Chiyoda, Tokyo
Location Country:Japan
Location:Marunouchi Park Building, Marunouchi
Locations:121
Key People:Takehiko Kakiuchi

Katsuya Nakanishi
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:General trading company
Services:Energy
Industrial finance
Machinery
Chemicals
Construction
Metal
Food
Consumer Goods
Revenue: (2021)[1]
Operating Income: (2021)
Net Income: (2021)
Assets: (2021)
Equity: (2021)
Num Employees:80,728 (Including overseas offices & subsidiaries) (as of Mar 31,2022)
Subsid:Mitsubishi Shokuhin (61.99%)
Lawson (50.12%)
Princes Group

is Japan's largest trading company (sogo shosha) and a member of the Mitsubishi keiretsu. As of 2022, Mitsubishi Corporation employs over 80,000 people and has ten business segments, including energy, industrial finance, banking, machinery, chemicals, and food.

History

The company traces its roots to the Mitsubishi conglomerate founded by Yataro Iwasaki. Iwasaki was originally employed by the Tosa clan of modern-day Kōchi Prefecture, who posted him to Nagasaki in the 1860s. During this time, Iwasaki became close to Sakamoto Ryōma, a major figure in the Meiji Restoration that ended the Tokugawa shogunate and restored the nominal primacy of the emperor of Japan in 1867. Iwasaki was placed in charge of the Tosa clan's trading operation, Tsukumo Shokai, based in Osaka. This company changed its name in the following years to Mitsukawa Shokai and then to Mitsubishi Shokai. Around 1871, the company was renamed Mitsubishi Steamship Company and began a mail service between Yokohama and Shanghai with government sponsorship.[2]

Under Iwasaki's leadership in the late 1800s, Mitsubishi diversified its business into insurance (Tokio Marine Insurance Company and Meiji Life Insurance Company), mining (Takashima Coal Mine) and shipbuilding. Following his death in 1885, his successor Yanosuke Iwasaki merged the shipping operation with a rival enterprise to form the Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and refocused Mitsubishi's business on coal and copper mining. In 1918, the group's international trading business was spun off to form Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha.[3] Mitsubishi Goshi Kaisha served as the parent company of the group through World War II, during which group company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (launched in 1934) produced ships, aircraft and heavy machinery for the war effort.[4]

After the war, the administration of Douglas MacArthur called for the dissolution of the "zaibatsu" corporations that dominated the Japanese economy. Mitsubishi was the only major zaibatsu to initially refuse this request, at the orders of the president Koyata Iwasaki, who shortly thereafter fell seriously ill. Mitsubishi eventually dissolved in 1947, and under restrictive rules imposed by the occupation authorities, the employees of the Mitsubishi Shoji trading arm rebranded into 100 separate companies. Beginning in 1950, the restrictions on re-consolidation of the zaibatsu were eased, and by 1952 most of the former Mitsubishi Shoji had coalesced into three companies.[5]

The current Mitsubishi Corporation was founded by the merger of these three companies to form Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha, Ltd. in 1954; Mitsubishi listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Stock Exchange in the same year. It changed its name to "Mitsubishi Corporation" in 1971.[6] Concurrently with its relaunch, Mitsubishi opened fourteen liaison offices outside Japan, as well as a US subsidiary called Mitsubishi International Corporation with offices in New York and San Francisco. By 1960, Mitsubishi had fifty-one overseas offices.[7] Mitsubishi's first large-scale investment outside Japan was a liquefied natural gas project in Brunei, committed to in 1968.

Along with Mitsubishi Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation played a central role in international trading for other constituents of the former Mitsubishi zaibatsu during the postwar era, such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Mitsubishi Motor Company, forming a major keiretsu business group centered around the Second Friday Conference (Kinyo-kai) of company managers.[8]

Mitsubishi was the largest Japanese general trading company from the late 1960s until the mid-1980s; after falling to fifth place in 1986, it embarked on a series of large overseas acquisitions together with other companies in the Mitsubishi group. By 2015 Mitsubishi was again the top-ranked general trading company by net earnings. However, Mitsubishi saw its first postwar net loss in the fiscal year ended March 2016, amid a slowdown in the Chinese economy and a slump in the commodity markets, causing Mitsubishi to lose its #1 position to Itochu.[9]

Berkshire Hathaway acquired over 5% of the stock in the company, along with four other Japanese trading houses, over the 12-month period ending in August 2020.[10]

In February 2024, TVS Mobility, a distribution and after-sales company, entered into a joint venture with Mitsubishi. TVS Mobility will be renamed TVS Vehicle Mobility Solution (TVS VMS), Mitsubishi will take a 32% stake in the new business by investing ₹300 crore (₹3 billion) and will enter the Indian automotive market.[11]

Business segments

Mitsubishi Corporation businesses are divided into eight business sections:

Of these segments, energy is the largest by far, accounting for almost half of the company's consolidated net income in the first half of the fiscal year 2015.[22]

Awards

In 2008 Mitsubishi Corporation was crowned In-House of the Year - Trading Company In-House Team of the Year at the 2008 ALB Japan Law Awards.[23]

In 2023, the company’s seat in Forbes Global 2000 was 75.[24]

Environmental record

In March 1998 the Mitsubishi Corporation received the quarterly Greenwash Award. It was awarded to Mitsubishi Corporation for successful efforts at portraying its business operations as environmentally friendly. It was argued that through the use of public relations the corporation demonstrated to the world that Exportadora de Sal S.A., their subsidiaries facility off the coast of Mexico, was environmentally benign. The facility is a salt evaporation factory and is in a lagoon that also holds a gray whale calving ground.[25]

As of 2009, Mitsubishi held between 35% and 40% of the worldwide market for bluefin tuna.[26] [27]

Mitsubishi was also the subject of a boycott by the Rainforest Action Network for its role in the destruction of rainforests through its forestry activities.[28] In November, 2019, Mitsubishi Corporation stated that it will buy Eneco, a company that focuses on renewable energy, in a deal valuing the Dutch energy firm at $4.52 billion.[29]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Financial Results for Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2021. Mitsubishi Corporation. May 7, 2021. June 19, 2021. June 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210603003914/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/ir/library/earnings/pdf/202105e.pdf. live.
  2. Web site: Timeline of the Life & Times of Yataro Iwasaki. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 3 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703104006/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/mclibrary/roots/vol03/. live.
  3. Web site: Yanosuke Expands Mitsubishi's Involvement in Mining. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044318/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/mclibrary/roots/vol12/. live.
  4. Web site: Koyata Iwasaki—Standing by His Convictions to the Very End. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 20 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230720121052/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/mclibrary/roots/vol21/. live.
  5. Web site: The Launch of the New Mitsubishi Shoji: President Takagaki Urges Fairness in Business. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 20 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230720121055/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/mclibrary/roots/1954/vol01/. live.
  6. Web site: Corporate History. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 3 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703104006/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/about/history/. live.
  7. Web site: Laying the Foundations for Success by Expanding the Company's Global Network. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 20 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230720121055/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/mclibrary/roots/1954/vol02/. live.
  8. Web site: History of Mitsubishi Corporation. International Directory of Company Histories, Vol. 12. St. James Press, 1996. 22 January 2015. 20 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230720121053/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/mitsubishi-corporation-history/. live.
  9. News: 商社で利益首位どう奪回？ 三菱商事社長 垣内威彦氏 出資先1000社と共に成長. 15 June 2016. The Nikkei. 5 June 2016.
  10. News: Yamazaki . Makiko . 20 November 2022 . Buffett's Berkshire boosts stakes in Japan's five biggest trading houses . live . Reuters . https://web.archive.org/web/20230718004655/https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/buffetts-berkshire-boosts-stakes-japans-five-biggest-trading-houses-2022-11-21/ . 18 July 2023 . 18 July 2023. none.
  11. Web site: en. Mitsubishi Corp, TVS Mobility join hands to float JV, will focus on mobility solutions, sales. CNBC. 19 February 2024 . 2024-02-27. 2024-02-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20240225084318/https://www.cnbctv18.com/auto/mitsubishi-to-enter-indian-car-market-with-32-percent-stake-in-tvs-vehicle-mobility-19079451.htm.
  12. Web site: Business Service Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150703234254/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/bs/. 3 July 2015.
  13. Web site: Global Environmental & Infrastructure Business Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 17 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117064224/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/geb/. live.
  14. News: Humber. Yuriy. Mitsubishi Corp Invests in Turkey's Calik to Win Energy Orders. 5 June 2015. Bloomberg L.P.. 4 June 2015. 2 October 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221002015753/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-04/mitsubishi-corp-invests-in-turkey-s-calik-to-win-energy-orders. live.
  15. Web site: Industrial Finance, Logistics & Development Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 6 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171106172848/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/ifl/. live.
  16. Web site: Energy Business Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 3 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190203122745/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/energy/. live.
  17. Web site: Metals Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 20 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171120210343/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/metals/. live.
  18. News: Iwata. Mari. BHP, Mitsubishi Open New Coal Mine Amid Market Slump. 5 June 2015. The Wall Street Journal. 13 October 2014. 3 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230703104001/https://www.wsj.com/articles/bhp-billiton-mitsubishi-open-new-coal-mine-amid-market-slump-1413175676. live.
  19. Web site: Machinery Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 18 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118204851/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/machinery/. live.
  20. Web site: Chemicals Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 17 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171117214925/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/chemicals/. live.
  21. Web site: Living Essentials Group. Mitsubishi Corporation. 5 June 2015. 15 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115132732/http://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/bg/le/. live.
  22. Web site: Results for Six Months Ended September 2014. Mitsubishi Corporation. 22 January 2015. 11 November 2014. 8 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230408082833/https://www.mitsubishicorp.com/jp/en/ir/library/meetings/pdf/141111/20141111e.pdf. live.
  23. Japan Law Awards 2008 . Asian Legal Business . . May 2008 . 8 . 5 . 32 . . April 12, 2014 . July 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230720121046/https://issuu.com/keymedia/docs/hkalb_8.5/34 . live .
  24. Web site: en. The Global 2000 2023. Forbes. 2024-02-07. 2024-01-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20240129031905/https://www.forbes.com/lists/global2000/?sh=4f5ab07e5ac0.
  25. Web site: Mitsubishi and Laguna San Ignacio . Joshua Karliner . CorpWatch . March 1, 1998 . September 26, 2014 . September 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140916052721/http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=4070 . live .
  26. Web site: Revealed: the bid to corner world's bluefin tuna market . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220515/https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/revealed-the-bid-to-corner-worlds-bluefin-tuna-market-1695479.html . 2022-05-15 . subscription . live . Martin Hickman . . June 3, 2009 . February 24, 2012.
  27. Web site: Bluefin Tuna overfished bought and paid for by Mitsubishi . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/H7HMCKIu8J0. 2021-12-12 . live. 26 May 2011 . . September 26, 2014.
  28. Book: Manheim, Jarol . Death of A Thousand Cuts: Corporate Campaigns and the Attack on the Corporation . 2000 . . 978-1-135-64857-2 . Chapter 5. 93–98.
  29. News: Japan's Mitsubishi beats Shell to buy Dutch power firm Eneco. 2019-11-25. Reuters. 2019-11-26. en. 2019-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20191126125804/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eneco-m-a-mitsubishi-idUSKBN1XZ0SZ. live.

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