Beneath our feet lies a story etched in steel and concrete. This is the story of Shimizu Corporation. It is a tale spanning over two centuries. The story began with a humble carpenter and now touches skylines across the globe.
Shimizu Corporation’s roots lie in Edo. Now it is known as Tokyo. Kisuke Shimizu I, a carpenter from Etchu founded the company in 1804. He set up shop in Kanda Kajicho. From the start, Kisuke Shimizu I wanted to devote himself to quality. He aimed to create reliable structures.
Kisuke Shimizu I’s skills were soon recognized. He was selected to help build the West Wing of Edo Castle. This was a great honor. Kisuke Shimizu II designed Japan’s first western-style hotel. It was named the Tsukiji Hotel. This showed the company’s spirit of innovation.
Let’s jump forward in time. It is the late 1880s. Shimizu established the first drafting office in Japan’s construction industry. This was to develop personnel. They would draft Western architectural designs. This shows Shimizu was always looking to the future.
Did you know Shimizu had the first R&D facility in Japan’s construction industry? It was established in 1944. It was during World War II. This shows a commitment to research and development.
Consider the Yoyogi National Stadium. It was built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Shimizu built it. The stadium’s suspension roof was rare.
Now, think about energy. Shimizu built Japan’s first underground LNG storage tank. It was in 1970. This helped transition Japan to clean energy.
Fast forward to 1998. The National Museum of Western Art needed renovation. Shimizu did Japan’s first seismic isolation retrofit. It secured the building’s anti-seismic performance. It also preserved the original design.
Shimizu built Japan’s first zero energy building in 2013. It is Seicho-no-Ie’s Office in the Forest. It uses natural energy.
In 2012, Shimizu created a smart community in Kyobashi. The Kyobashi Smart Community Council was established. It gained ISO certifications for the whole community block.
Since 2018, Shimizu has been using the Shimizu Smart Site. It is a next-generation production system. Autonomous robots work with humans.
Shimizu’s influence stretches beyond Japan. They’ve worked on projects across Asia. These include the Bãi Cháy Bridge and Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3. They also worked on the Jakarta MRT North–South Line.
Shimizu even dreams big with mega-project concepts. These include the Lunar Solar Power Generation and the Ocean Spiral. The Ocean Spiral is an underwater city concept.
The Shimizu Corporation stands as a testament to innovation. It is a company built on quality. It was founded by Kisuke Shimizu I. It continues to shape our world. Its slogan is “Today’s Work, Tomorrow’s Heritage.” It embodies the company’s dedication.