Sharp Corporation facts for kids
Logo since 1960
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Headquarters at its factory in Sakai-ku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture
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Native name
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シャープ株式会社
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Romanized name
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Shāpu kabushiki gaisha |
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Formerly
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Hayakawa Metal Works (1924–1942) Hayakawa Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (1942–1970) Sharp Electric Co. (spin-off) (1956–1967) |
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| Traded as | TYO: 6753 Nikkei 225 Component |
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | 15 September 1912 Tokyo, Japan 16 September 1982 Tokyo, Japan |
| Founder | Tokuji Hayakawa |
| Headquarters | Sakai-ku Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan |
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Po-Hsuan Wu (President and CEO) Masahiro Okitsu (Executive Vice President) |
| Products | Televisions, audiovisual, home appliances, information equipment, ICs, solar cells, mobile phones, fax machines, electronic components, calculators, LCD panels, personal computers, pumps |
| Revenue |  ¥2.27 trillion (2020) |
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Operating income
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 ¥52.77 billion (2020) |
| ¥20.96 billion (2020) |
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| Total assets | ¥1.83 trillion (2020) |
| Total equity | ¥364.59 billion (2020) |
| Owners |
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Number of employees
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46,206 (2023) |
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List
Sharp Marketing Japan
Sharp Energy Solutions ScienBiziP Japan Dynabook Sharp Semiconductor Innovation Sharp Fukuyama Laser Sharp Cocoro Life Sharp Display Technology Sharp NEC Display Solutions (66.0%) Sharp Sensing Technology Sharp Electronics Corporation Sharp Electronics of Canada Sharp Corporation Mexico Sharp Electronics (Europe) Limited Sharp International Finance (U.K.) Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH Sharp Middle East Free Zone Establishment Sharp Universal Technology (Shenzhen) Shanghai Sharp Electronics Sharp Hong Kong Yantai Xiaye Electronics Sharp (Taiwan) Electronics Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sharp Singapore Electronics Sharp Appliances (Thailand) Sharp Manufacturing (Thailand) Sharp Manufacturing Vietnam Sharp Business Systems (India) Sharp Corporation of Australia |
Sharp Corporation (シャープ株式会社, Shāpu Kabushiki-gaisha) is a big Japanese company that makes electronics. Its main office is in Sakai, Osaka, Japan. A person named Tokuji Hayakawa started the company in 1912.
Sharp makes many different products. These include TVs, home appliances, and mobile phones. Since 2016, a company from Taiwan called Foxconn owns most of Sharp.
In 2022, Sharp's sales were about 2.55 trillion Japanese yen. This shows the company is still growing and selling many products around the world.
Contents
The Story of Sharp: How It Started and Grew
Early Days: From Pencil to Radio (1912–1945)
In 1912, Tokuji Hayakawa opened a small metal workshop in Honjo, Tokyo. He invented a special snap buckle. Later, in 1915, he created the "Ever-Ready Sharp" mechanical pencil. This pencil was very popular and sold all over the world. The company got its name, Sharp, from this successful pencil.
In 1923, a big earthquake destroyed the pencil business. So, the company moved to Osaka. There, they started making the first Japanese radio sets. These radios went on sale in 1925. In 1924, the company was named "Hayakawa Metal Works." Later, in 1942, it became "Hayakawa Electric Industry Company."
Growing Big: TVs, Calculators, and More (1945–1999)
In 1953, Sharp started making the first TVs in Japan. These were called "Sharp TV3-14T."
A big step happened in 1964. Sharp created the world's first transistor calculator. It was called the Sharp CS-10A. Two years later, they made an even better calculator using special computer chips. In 1969, they made the first small, pocket-sized calculator that was also affordable. This made calculators popular for everyone. Around this time, Sharp also introduced the first microwave oven with a spinning plate. In 1970, the company officially changed its name to Sharp Corporation.
Sharp made the first LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) calculator in 1973. LCDs are the screens you see on many devices today. Sharp also worked with Nintendo in the 1980s. They made special TVs and game consoles like the Twin Famicom and the SF-1 SNES TV. These are now rare items that collectors love.
In the late 1970s, Sharp made microwave ovens that were cheap enough for homes. Sharp was known for making good quality and affordable electronics. They even made high-end stereo systems called Optonica. In 1992, Sharp introduced the first TV that could be hung on a wall.
New Millennium: Camera Phones and Big Screens (2000–2012)
In 2000, Sharp made the world's first cell phone with a camera. It was called the J-SH04 and was sold in Japan.
Sharp invested a lot in factories that make LCD screens. They built big plants in Kameyama (2004) and Sakai (2009). The Sakai plant was special because it could make very large screens.
In 2005, Sharp made the biggest LCD television at the time, with a 65-inch screen. They also showed a huge 108-inch LCD TV in 2007. In 2010, Sharp stopped making regular computers to focus on tablets. In 2012, Sharp showed the largest TV available for sale, an 80-inch screen.
Recent Times: Changes and New Ideas (2012–Present)
2012 was Sharp's 100th birthday. However, the company faced some financial challenges that year. In 2013, Sharp made the most efficient solar cell, which turned a record 44.4% of sunlight into electricity.
In 2015, Sharp sold its TV factory in Mexico to another company, Hisense. This meant Sharp stopped selling TVs in most of North and South America for a while. But Sharp remained a top TV brand in Japan.
In October 2015, Sharp launched a smartphone that could also work as a robot, called RoboHon. It was sold in Japan in 2016. Sharp also started selling the world's first TV with 8K resolution in 2015. This 85-inch TV had incredibly clear pictures.
In 2016, Foxconn, a big electronics maker from Taiwan, bought most of Sharp. Foxconn wanted to use Sharp to sell products directly to people. In 2017, Sharp started making a profit again, thanks to changes made by Foxconn.
Sharp had a disagreement with Hisense about TV quality in 2017 but later dropped the lawsuit. In 2019, Sharp got back the rights to use its own brand name for TVs in the US market. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sharp used one of its TV factories to make surgical masks. Also in 2020, Sharp fully bought Dynabook, a company that makes computers.
What Sharp Makes: Products and Innovations
Sharp makes many different kinds of products for homes and businesses.
For your home, Sharp makes:
- LCD panels: These are the screens used in TVs, phones, and computers.
- Solar panels: These turn sunlight into electricity.
- Mobile phones: Sharp made the first commercial camera phone in 2000.
- TVs: They are known for their Aquos brand flat-screen TVs.
- Home appliances: This includes microwave ovens, air conditioners, and air purifiers.
- Audio and video systems: Like home cinema systems.
- Calculators: Sharp has a long history of making calculators.
For businesses, Sharp makes:
- Printers and copiers: These are called Multi-Function Printing Devices.
- Projectors and monitors: For presentations and displays.
- Cash registers and point-of-sale systems: Used in stores.
- Security robots: Sharp makes a robot called INTELLOS for security. It can move around and monitor areas.
- Collaboration displays: Large interactive screens for meeting rooms.
Sharp Solar is a big company that makes photovoltaic (PV) solar cells. These cells help create clean energy from the sun.
Where Sharp Works: Global Operations
Sharp is a global company with offices and factories all over the world. In 2003, their sales were $16.8 billion. They have about 46,600 employees, and about half of them work outside Japan.
Sharp has 64 locations in 30 countries. Their products are sold in 164 countries. Many of their local companies are called Sharp Electronics. Sharp's main headquarters are in Sakai, Japan. Before 2016, their main office was in Abeno-ku, Osaka.
Factories Around the World
Sharp has factories in different countries:
- Poland: Sharp Manufacturing Poland makes LCD modules.
- Indonesia: A factory in Karawang makes refrigerators.
- Malaysia: Factories in Shah Alam, Batu Pahat, and Sungai Petani make TVs, Blu-Ray players, radios, and kitchen appliances.
Sharp used to have a big LCD factory in Mexico, but it was sold in 2015.
Sharp and Sports: Sponsorships
Sharp has sponsored many sports teams and events.
- Manchester United Football Club: From 1983 to 2000, Sharp was the main sponsor of this famous English football team. The Sharp logo was on their jerseys for 17 years. During this time, the team won many important titles, including the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
- Red Star Belgrade: Sharp also sponsored this football club in 2002 and 2003.
- Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.: From 2001 to 2003, Sharp sponsored this Scottish football team.
- Garmin–Sharp Cycling Team: In 2012, Sharp became the name sponsor for a professional cycling team.
- Stoke City F.C.: In 2016, Sharp partnered with this football club.
Product gallery
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Sharp 5P-37G boombox
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Sharp EL-546R scientific calculator
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Sharp CD-S400 Hi-Fi stereo system
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Sharp PC-1251 pocket computer
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Sharp 14C-C1R television
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Sharp Twin Famicom licensed game console for Japanese market (1986)
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X68000 ACE-HD desktop computer for Japanese market (1988)
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Sharp TV/VCR combo
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Sharp AQUOS SH-12C mobile phone for Japanese market (2011)
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Sharp IC I5352SA in QIP
Slogans: What Sharp Says About Itself
Companies often use slogans to tell people what they are about. Here are some of Sharp's slogans over the years:
- "New Life Now" (Japan only, 1970s–1985)
- "From Sharp Minds Come Sharp Products" (1980s)
- "Be Sharp" (2002–2016)
- "Be Original" (2016–present)
See also
In Spanish: Sharp Corporation para niños
