Shojiro Ishibashi: Pioneer of Automobile Tire Manufacturing in Japan

Abstract

Shojiro Ishibashi was the Bridgestone founder. He, like other entrepreneurs in the same era such as Sakichi Toyoda and Michio Suzuki, succeeded in domestic production of tires based on the technology accumulated in traditional industries. Ishibashi utilized his existing technologies to stimulate demand in related fields and entered into other industries. Ishibashi kept the manufacturing cost and selling price low and secured appropriate profits. Then, enhancing brand with customers’ trust and originality, he continued to work on management reform. At the end of World War II, Ishibashi disobeyed a military order and returned to the Goodyear Java factory with no damage. The factory was requisitioned by the Japanese army and entrusted to Ishibashi to manage. This strengthened the bond between the two companies and provided a foothold for Bridgestone to grow significantly as a tire manufacturer. The characteristic of Ishibashi as an entrepreneur was that he had the ability to grasp social needs from a long-term perspective and develop them into business opportunities.