Electrification boom: in the late 1950's
Japan's continuous economic growth brought a boom in sales of household electrical appliances, and heavy electrical equipment manufacturers entered the field, leading to stiff price competition. New appliances were appearing and making homes more pleasant and efficient. All consumers wanted a television, washing machine and refrigerator, or the "three holy grails" as they were popularly known. Konosuke had foreseen the dawn of the electrification age and worked to strengthen his sales network and stabilize his market share by establishing a close-knit network of retailers.