A Word from Tokuji Hayakawa, Sharp Founder

Sharp founder Tokuji Hayakawa was born in 1893 in Tokyo.
After apprenticing as a maker of women'hair ornaments and precision metal products, he opened his own metalworking shop in September 1912.
Showing ingenuity and creativity, he invented the Ever-Sharp pencil and grew his business.
But in the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Tokuji's factory was reduced to ashes and his wife and two children perished.
Undaunted, he relocated to Osaka where he started business anew.
Pursuing his vision of continually staying ahead by pioneering new fields, in 1925 he succeeded in assembling Japan'first crystal radio set. His company went on to become the leading radio manufacturer in Japan, thus establishing the foundation for Sharp as we know today.
This was followed over the years by Japan's first TV set and numerous other revolutionary 'irsts' that stand as milestones in the history of consumer electronics. Tokuji was truly a modern visionary; for example, more than half a century ago, he had the foresight to turn his attention to solar energy.
He was also known as a humanitarian, making countless contributions to communities and society at large.

"Make products that others want to imitate."
Spoken by Tokuji, this phrase symbolizing his spirit of manufacturing has continued to echo and shine in the deeds of generations of Sharp employees.