Temples built by the Kongo Gumi Company
Up until 2006, Japan's Kongo Gumi was believed to be the oldest continuously operating independent company in the world. Founded in 578 AD as a family-owned construction company, Kongo Gumi finally fell on hard times in the 2000s, after 1400 years of building temples and palaces. The company was absorbed into Takamatsu Corporation — a mere baby of a company founded in 1917.
The name and work of Kongo Gumi continue under the Takamatsu umbrella, but since the company no longer survives as a separate entity, it's debatable whether it still belongs at the top of the "oldest company" list. If not, another Japanese company, Ikenobo Kadokai, took over the throne after 1,420 years of waiting. Founded in 587, Ikenobo Kadokai offers classes in flower arranging.
Japan is well-represented in the list of oldest companies. A 2009 survey by Tokyo Shoko Research Ltd. found eight Japanese companies founded more than 1,000 years ago. (This may show the importance of tradition in Japanese society, or it may just mean that Japan has had better record-keeping.) Three Japanese hotels have been in operation since the 700s — Keiunkan (founded in 705), Hoshi (717) and Koman (717) — and paper-bag manufacturer Genda Shigyo was founded in 771.
The oldest non-Japanese company on the list is Stiftskeller St. Peter, a restaurant in Salzburg, Austria, that has been doling out grog since at least 803. France's Chateau de Goulaine, a vineyard, museum and butterfly collection, was founded in 1000, as was the Marinelli bell foundry of Agnore, Italy.
The oldest Canadian company is the Hudson's Bay Company (now represented by The Bay department stores), founded in 1620.
So you see, it is possible to stay in business for a long time. Too many fly by night companies are here today and gone tomorrow. It's hard to trust anymore. What a changing world we live in.
