and all this time I thought Mr. Sanyo founded Sanyo corp.

[Mulboyne]

Well it sounded plausible to me but it's wrong. It's one of three main theories about the origin of the name. The other two are that there were three Torii brothers (san Torii) or that founder Torii especially loved his son (son Torii). These are also wrong.

Instead, it comes from the company's first hit product, "Akadama Port Wine", which came out in 1907. The original label used an image of the sun alongside the name Torii (the bottle above dates from the 20's; the sun is still there but the company name Kotobukiya is more prominent). When their first Japanese whisky was introduced, the name Suntory was born.

As told by a guy who works on their advertising account.

[dimwit]

Just reading about the history of Lawson and I didn't realize it was a real entity in the states.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawson_%28store%29

[FG Lurker]

Bridgestone was founded by Shojiro Ishibashi, literally Mr. "Stone Bridge".

http://www.bridgestone.co.jp/english/info/profile/bscb_e1.html

[American Oyaji]

I thought Bridgestone was a company that another Japanese company BOUGHT, not that it originated in Japan. Wow.

[Mulboyne]

I thought Bridgestone was a company that another Japanese company BOUGHT, not that it originated in Japan. Wow.

You are thinking of Firestone, which was bought by Bridgestone.

[American Oyaji]

You are thinking of Firestone which Bridgestone bought.

OK, Mulboyne, thats REALLY funny telling me what my thought processes are.

I'm quite aware that Bridgestone bought Firestone, but a few years ago when I heard that Bridgestone was Japanese, that is what I thought. I was surprised to see SO MANY Bridgestone dealers in Japan. I commented to a friend that it was cool that an American company was so popular. He quickly disabused me of that notion.

[Mulboyne]

[IkemenTommy]

Oh yeah? I got one.. how about DoCoMo?

[IkemenTommy]

[Taro Toporific]

I got one.. how about DoCoMo?

Do Communications Over the Mobile Network , but the word dokomo also means &#8220]DoCoMoN[/B] or DoCoMoNe.

Just reading about the history of Lawson and I didn't realize it was a real entity in the states.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawson_%28store%29

Oh nooooo.
Lawson's history sounds almost as bad the 7-11 story.

[Mulboyne]

The Asahi used to run a regular column about the origin of company names and brand names. They may still do for all I know. I remember reading about Edwin Jeans that the name came up because the company wanted to beat American jeans. i.e. they wanted to "win". More specifically, they wanted Japan to win. Since they were a Tokyo company, they chose the old name "Edo" and came up with "Edo Win" = "Edwin".

[American Oyaji]

I'm going to have to research that Lawson history. My family is from Ohio and my grandmother's maiden name is Lawson.

[Mulboyne]

[quote="Mulboyne"]

Well it sounded plausible to me but it's wrong. It's one of three main theories about the origin of the name. The other two are that there were three Torii brothers (san Torii) or that founder Torii especially loved his son (son Torii). These are also wrong.

Instead, it comes from the company's first hit product, "Akadama Port Wine", which came out in 1907. The original label used an image of the sun alongside the name Torii (the bottle above dates from the 20's]

Here's a picture of the original Akadama Port Wine model:

[American Oyaji]

Here's a picture of the original Akadama Port Wine model:

She's about Greji's speed.

[IkemenTommy]

She's about Greji's speed.

Greji, that sick pedophile

[Samurai_Jerk]

[IkemenTommy]

I had heard the company was called Edokatsu which is how they came up with Edwin. However, I just checked the Japanese Wikipedia entry on the subject and found this:



For those who can't read it, it says they reversed the D and E in DENIM and flipped the NIM 180 degrees.

That sounds more plausible than the "winning in Edo" conspiracy that has been floating around.

[Mulboyne]

That sounds more plausible than the "winning in Edo" conspiracy that has been floating around.

That Asahi column always quoted what a company's PR department said so "Edo-Win" was certainly the official story at the time.

[Greji]

She's about Greji's speed.

I told what you wrote when I took her to the station this morning and she's really pissed off....

Greji, that sick pedophile

Hey, everyone's got their hobbies....