MITSUBISHI

The Mitsubishi Group is a Japanese conglomerate comprising various autonomous multinational companies across diverse industries. Established in 1870 by Yatarō Iwasaki as a shipping firm under the name “Tsukumo Shokai”, the company’s name was changed to Mitsubishi Shokai in 1873. The name “Mitsubishi” consists of two parts, “mitsu” meaning “three” and “hishi” meaning “water caltrop,” which is reflected in the company’s logo. Despite having limited business cooperation, the group’s companies are formally independent and not under common control. MUFG Bank, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are the four main companies in the group. The group’s historical origins date back to the Mitsubishi zaibatsu, which existed from 1870 to 1946 and was disbanded following World War II during the occupation of Japan. Even though the former constituents of the company share the Mitsubishi brand and trademark, they are independent entities. The group has diversified over the years, and its businesses include automotive, electronics, metallurgy, mining, food, and financial services, among others.