TIL that there is a construction company in Japan that lasted for 14 CENTURIES in the hands of the same family (apparently 40 male-line generations) before going bankrupt in 2006.

3 comments

1. “The practice of sons-in-law taking the family name when they joined the family firm contributed to the Kongō Gumi’s long existence.[4] As with many distinguished Japanese families, sons-in-law often joined the clan and took the Kongō family name.[4] This allowed the company to continue with the same name when there were no sons in a generation.”

   Adopting adults into the family is also a thing in Japan, to continue the lineage of the company.

2. Although they went bankrupt their essence still continues in the hands of Takamatsu Construction Group

   And they run as a wholly owned subsidiary of that group. They didn’t dissolve it which is quite nice.

   Crazy to think that a single company is 1500 years old and still has relationship with some shrines which they made 100-300+ years ago.

3. I wonder how reliable this story is. Apparently the documentation of the company being established is from the 16th century. The timeline in the article also has basically nothing between the first temple being built in the 6th century and the 16th century. Anyone know anything more?