Learn from History, Live by the Spirit
Sumitomo's involvement with copper mining spans over 420 years.
During that time, the business has faced several major challenges due to changes in external conditions. In each case, management responded to the changes with skill and tenacity to forge a new business with a revised strategy and organization. The enterprise's sustained growth has made a significant and wide-ranging contribution to the development of Japanese society.
Today, as the direct successor of Sumitomo’s original business, SMM once again draws inspiration from this illustrious history to move forward based on the Sumitomo Business Spirit.
(Materials provided by Sumitomo Shiryokan)
Following years of war-torn strife, Japan moved steadily toward the Edo Period, an era of relative peace and tranquility. Around that time, the Sumitomo family firm succeeded in mastering the new technology of copper smelting. The start of operations at the Besshi mine later provided the foundations for business development.
As feudal society, in which the samurai class had played a dominant role for over 670 years began to break down in Japan, the Besshi mine, caught up in social transformation, faced a severe crisis. However, Sumitomo was able to overcome these challenges at the dawn of a new age for the country.
Japan was now developing at a rapid pace as modernization proceeded. The Besshi mine followed this trend, experiencing good fortune and the occasional crisis as it made progress.
Japan's economy recovered rapidly in the years following WWII. This led to demands from Western countries for Japan to liberalize trade and make its currency fully convertible. Japan eventually dismantled tariffs and promoted free trade. SMM responded by undertaking fundamental business reforms to ensure the company would be internationally competitive.
As the years of high growth started to come to an end, Japan’s largest manufacturers led corporate Japan in a dynamic campaign to develop global business franchises. SMM adopted this global challenge as well, and set about building an internationally competitive business platform.
