The World’s Oldest Company in Japan Since the Sixth Century
If you don’t know the name, Prince Shotoku, you cannot be a Japanese.
Prince Shotoku was born in AD 574 in a horse box like Jesus Christ. According to official history, later he became a regent for Empress, or female Emperor, Suiko.
One of his great achievements was establishment of a temple named Shi-Ten-Ouji in Osaka.
To build up the temple, Prince Shotoku invited three carpenters from a country in the Korean Peninsula. One of them later became a founder of a building company called Kongou-Gumi specializing in construction of temples, shrines, and traditional buildings.
However, according to a recent news report, this Japan’s and World’s oldest company is going to be merged by other company, due to financial problems. So, a company called Kongou-Gumi is going to disappear in the proceeding of history. But Prince Shoutoku’s reputation will never change.
Prince Shoutoku once wrote an official letter to an Emperor in China, stating that his letter was meant to be delivered to the son of heaven in China as a greeting from the son of heaven in Japan. This expression provoked the Emperor in China, since he thought Japan was his subordinate.
However, since then, Japan firmly intended to be and keep independent of hegemony of China.
There are various reasons why Prince Shoutoku is so popular among Japanese people; and under his glory, even a company can enjoy 1,400 year operation.
Jesus Christ completely neglected hegemony of Roman Empire. However, I believe he also worked to assure independence of Israelites for more than 2000 years, even intagibly.
“BECAUSE WHOEVER IS NOT AGAINST YOU IS FOR YOU”