Shojiro Ishibashi - Early History
The Shimaya TABI Shop, Japan
Jika-tabi Japanese work shoes
In 1906, Bridgestone’s founder Shojiro Ishibashi took over the family clothing business at the age of seventeen. The business was situated in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, but above and beyond the work of his family business, it was Shojiro's ambition to dedicate his life to contributing to the nation of Japan.
Accomplishments
- Specialisation in tabi Japanese traditional socks
- Reform of the apprentice system
- Use of a standardised pricing system
- Creation of Jika-tabi
- Development of the rubber shoe business and overseas production
Using the capital he accumulated from the Jika-tabi – which were socks with rubber soles used as work shoes – and the rubber shoe business, Shojiro decided to manufacture tyres. The tyre industry did not exist in Japan at the time, but he was adamant about the domestic production of tyres because he strongly believed in the future of motorised transportation in the country.
