46,708 'Long-standing' Companies Across Japan: 70% in Manufacturing, Wholesale, and Retail, with Brewing Sectors Standing Out

Based on Teikoku Databank's 'COSMOS2' corporate profile database (as of December 2025, containing approximately 1.5 million companies) and independently collected data on companies with confirmed business operations, we defined 'long-standing companies' as those in business for 100 years or more. If only the era or year name was known for the founding date, the final year of that era was used for calculations.

SUMMARY As of December 2025, there are 46,708 companies with a history exceeding 100 years, resulting in a long-standing company emergence rate of 3.11%. By prefecture, Kyoto leads, followed by Yamagata and Niigata. By city/ward/district, the top 10 regions all saw emergence rates exceeding 10%. By major industry classification, manufacturing is the most common, followed by retail and wholesale. In detailed industry classifications, 'Office Leasing' has the highest number of long-standing companies, while 'Sake Brewing' has the highest emergence rate. Approximately 2,000 more companies are expected to join the ranks of long-standing businesses in 2026.

46,000 Long-standing Companies Nationwide, Emergence Rate Exceeds 3% As of December 2025, there were 46,708 companies with a history of over 100 years. Approximately 1,900 companies founded in 1925 (Taisho 14)—the year NHK began radio broadcasts and the General Election Law was promulgated—have joined this group. The 'long-standing company emergence rate,' which indicates the proportion of such companies nationwide, reached 3.11%, surpassing 3% for the first time.

Of these 46,000 companies, 1,836 have been in business for over 200 years, 905 for over 300 years, and 47 for over 500 years. This includes 11 companies with a history of over 1,000 years, led by Kongo Gumi (founded in 578, Osaka Prefecture), famous as Japan's oldest company. By era, 178 companies were founded before the Edo Shogunate in 1603, 3,480 during the Edo period, 22,070 during the Meiji period, and 20,980 during the Taisho period.

Kyoto Prefecture Leads at 5.45%; 23 Prefectures Exceed the National Average By prefecture, Kyoto leads with a 5.45% emergence rate. Its history as an ancient capital and relatively low damage during World War II are considered factors in the survival of these businesses. 'Sake-producing' regions Yamagata and Niigata follow, with three prefectures exceeding 5%. In total, 23 prefectures exceeded the national average of 3.11%.

Conversely, major metropolitan areas showed lower rates: Tokyo at 2.32%, Osaka at 2.30%, and Aichi at 2.95%. Rates in the Kyushu region are generally low, with Okinawa at only 0.17%. Notably, the most common industry for long-standing companies in Okinawa is 'Distilled/Mixed Liquor Manufacturing,' with 11 companies involved in Awamori production.

When looking at the emergence rate by city, ward, and district, 10 regions exceeded 10%. Four of these were within Kyoto City, including Higashiyama Ward, which had a remarkably high rate of 19.20%. Other top-ranking areas included Katsuura City in Chiba, known for its fishing industry and historic morning markets, and Choshi City, famous for soy sauce production.