2018
Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of Our Founding
On March 9, 2018, advertisements were placed in 60 Japanese newspapers. To convey its gratitude for the past 100 years where Panasonic moved forward with customers, stories about Konosuke Matsushita and the company's donations and supply of products to each of the 47 prefectures in Japan were featured.
Panasonic marked the 100th anniversary of its founding.
Our company's history dates back to March 7, 1918, when Matsushita Electric Housewares Manufacturing Works was established by three people: the founder Konosuke Matsushita, his wife Mumeno, and her younger brother Toshio Iue, who later went on to establish SANYO Electric. With the mission of contributing to improving people's lives and helping society progress, Panasonic has evolved over the years into an entity engaged in a wide sphere of business on the global stage.
In 2018, the significant milestone of our 100th anniversary, a wide variety of efforts are now in progress to show our determination to take a new step forward by following in the footsteps of our founder. At 2018 International CES, one of the world's largest consumer electronics shows held in Las Vegas, United States from January 9 to 12, 2018, Panasonic introduced its 100-year history, notable products, and future vision.
Panasonic's 100-year history and the path of Konosuke Matsushita are introduced at CES 2018
On March 7, 2018, the date marking the company's 100th anniversary, the Panasonic Museum was opened in Kadoma City, Osaka. The museum complex consists of several sections, including the newly constructed Konosuke Matsushita Museum and the Hall of Manufacturing Ingenuity. The Konosuke Matsushita Museum is a place where visitors can learn about the founder's views on business and his management philosophy as they follow his life and thus takes over the role of the former Konosuke Matsushita Museum, which was established in 1968 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company's founding. The Hall of Manufacturing Ingenuity displays the company's epoch-making, historic products at the renovated building of the former Konosuke Matsushita Museum. At the opening ceremony, CEO Kazuhiro Tsuga expressed the company's resolve to make a fresh start into the next 100 years, stating "Through this location, and sharing the philosophies laid down with our founding, Panasonic will continue to develop even during the next 100 years through the efforts of its employees. In addition, we sincerely hope that the Panasonic Museum will, as a place open to all, not only provide a point of contact but also be a symbol for Panasonic and society moving forward and developing together."
Konosuke Matsushita Museum opened on March 7
At the company's 50th anniversary ceremony in 1968, Konosuke Matsushita delivered his address and stressed the importance of sharing the management philosophy to enable employees to autonomously fulfill their tasks: "It's all up to you whether the management philosophy is truly observed over the next 50 or 100 years." On this milestone of the 100th anniversary, all of us at the Panasonic Group must renew our awareness of responsibilities entrusted by our founder Konosuke Matsushita and move toward the future.