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 laid a solid foundation for the Furukawa Group. On the other hand, 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 a key figure within this leading organization.
In 1887, Kessler hoped to establish a foothold in Japan through 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 described the features of his company’s products.
Listening to Kessler, Ichibei strove to usher in a new era using the knowledge he had acquired abroad and mining development technology.
Ichibei was able to expand his business. As 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 of being 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 reflected in their name: "Fuji" comes from the "Fu" in "Furukawa" and the "Ji" in "Siemens" (since the German "Z" sound is pronounced the same way in Japanese).
Eric STOECKEL
Energy efficiency application engineer
