50.East Japan Railway Company - $27.1B
East Japan Railway Company (further JR East) is a passenger railway company and the biggest out of the Japan Railways Group companies. The company was founded in 1987 with a ‘privatization spin-off’ from the Japanese National Railways. While the main focus is providing quality rail transport, other business segments look to diversify: Retails and Services, Real Estate and Hotels, Information Technology and Suica businesses. To top it off, JR East operates all of the Shinkansen - the ultra-fast bullet train - except for the Hokkaido Shinkansen. In 2019, JR East sales reached $27.1B, therefore it closes the list of top 50 companies in Japan by sales in 2019.
51.Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. - $24.9B
Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. (further Cosmo) is a company engaged in upstream, midstream, and downstream operations pertaining to oil. Cosmo comprises three business segments. Petroleum is responsible for various fuels, oils, and asphalt as well as the operations involved in importing and exporting, refining, sale, storage, and transportation. Petrochemical involves products such as ethylene, mixed xylene, paraxylene, benzene and toluene. Oil Development is engaged in development and production of crude oil. Additionally, there is a diversified range of construction, insurance, and power generation businesses. In 2019, Cosmo reported $24.9B in sales.
52.Alfresa Holdings Corporation - $24.8B
Alfresa Holdings Corporation (further Alfresa) is a holding company, headquartered in Tokyo, of pharmaceutical wholesalers. Thus it deals in wholesaling, manufacturing, import, and export of various pharmaceuticals, reagents, and medical devices. It was founded in 2003 as a joint-stock company, the efforts of Fukujin and Aswell. The holding company operates through 5 segments: Ethical Pharmaceuticals Wholesaling, Self-Medication, Products Wholesaling, Manufacturing, and Medical-related. In 2019, Alfresa’s sales amounted to $24.8B
53.Daikin Industries, Ltd. - $23.5B
Daikin Industries, Ltd. (further Daikin) is an air conditioning manufacturing company with headquarters in Osaka. Its network of operations extends to the Americas, Australia, Southeast Asia, Europe, India, and the Middle East. They coined variable refrigerant flow air conditioners but because of a failure to trademark the respective technology it was later remarketed as “variable refrigerant volume.” Daikin was founded in 1924 and went on to invent the necessary chemicals that would make them relevant. All in all, Daikin reached $23.5B in sales at the end of 2019.
54.Komatsu Ltd. - $23.2B
Komatsu Ltd. is a company that deals in manufacturing of heavy equipment: construction, mining, forestry and military equipment. And to that list we can add diesel engines, press machines, laser and thermoelectric generators. It was founded in 1921 and takes the name after its city in Ishikawa Prefecture. Komatsu’s manufacturing network, besides Japan, expands into Asia, the Americas, and Europe. On the global market of construction and mining equipment it shadows Caterpillar, but enjoys a stronger share in Japan and China. The company ended 2019 on a note of $23.2 in sales.
55.Nippon Steel Trading Corp. - $23.2B
Nippon Steel Trading Corp. (further Nippon Steel) engages in the sale, import, and export of steel, industrial supply and infrastructure, textiles, and food products. Nippon Steel is made of four core business divisions: Steel (sheets, pipes and tubes, structural, rods and bars), Industrial Supply & Infrastructure (metal machinery, mining machinery, crane, machine parts, office automation equipment), Textiles (product planning, production, and distribution of apparel items), Foodstuffs. Nippon Steel made $23.2B in sales in 2019.
56.Sekisui House, Ltd. - $22.1B
Sekisui House, Ltd. is a company dealing in operations pertaining to real estate properties, construction projects, real estate brokerage and landscaping. As such it incorporates all the necessary workings such as constructing, selling, purchasing and administration in terms of homebuilders and at the same time keeps a keen supervision eye on various projects. It was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Osaka. At the end of 2019, the ledgers were showing $22.1B in sales.
57.Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. - $21.9B
Recruit Holdings Co., Ltd. is a human resources company and was found in 1960 initially serving as an advertisement company. The idea was to act as a matchmaker for ready-to-graduate, eager-to-work students and corporations in need of workforce. Today, it operates through 3 segments: Human Resources Technology Services, Media & Solutions and Staffing. The $21.9B sales mark in 2019 has been possible thanks to over 45,700 people employed at Recruit Holdings.
58.Sharp Corporation - $21.9B
Sharp Corporation is a corporation chiefly focused on manufacturing and selling of electronic components and consumer electronic products. It was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai. It operates through 5 business segments each introducing a wide variety of products. Sharp is majority-owned by Foxconn Group - Taiwan-based electronics company. With over 54,000 people employed worldwide, those efforts combined have allowed Sharp to end 2019 on a $21.9B sales note.
59.Mitsubishi Motors Corporation - $21.9B
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is an automotive manufacturer headquartered in Minato. It joined the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance in 2016 as Nissan had owned a third in the company. Additionally, it is part of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, a big conglomerate we had earlier on our list. Mitsubishi Motors was founded in 1970 after a spin off of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Apart from manufacturing automobiles, Mitsubishi Motors also does automobile leasing and sales finance business. All in all, $21.9B in sales is the mark they have achieved in 2019.
60.Fujifilm Holdings Corporation - $21.7B
Fujifilm Holdings Corporation (further Fujifil Holdings) portfolio features a lot of industries which are summarized under three business segments. Imaging Solutions emphasizes color films, digital cameras, optical devices, color paper, photofinishing, instant photo systems. Information Solutions is aimed at equipment and materials for medical systems, pharmaceuticals, flat panel display materials. Document Solutions provides office copy machines, printers, production systems, office services and consumables. In 2019, Fujifilm Holdings achieved $21.7B in sales
61.ORIX Corporation - $21.3B
ORIX Corporation (further ORIX) is a financial services group situated in Minato and Osaka. Among its diversified service portfolio you can find leasing, lending, rentals, life insurance, real estate financing and developing, venture capital, investment and retail banking, commodities funds and securities brokering. It operates through 6 business segments: Corporate Financial Services, Maintenance Leasing, Real Estate, Investment and Operation, Retail, and Overseas Business. In 2019, ORIX made $21.3B in sales.
62.Toray Industries, Inc. - $20.8B
Toray Industries, Inc. (further Toray) is a corporation in the textiles and chemicals industries specializing in organic synthetic chemistry, polymer chemistry, and biochemistry. In addition to the initial areas of exploration, Toray has delved into pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics, housing and engineering. Toray was established in 1926 by Mitsui, however, it was not named a Mitsui due to scepticism of the company’s success. Those times are past them and their efforts in the year 2019 have brought in $20.8B in sales.
63.Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. - $20.7B
Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. (furhter Sumitomo Chemical) is a chemical company with the head office in Tokyo. It is part of the Sumitomo group and was founded in 1913 with the initial purpose of manufacturing fertilizer. Today, Sumitomo Chemical comprises 5 business segments: Petrochemicals, Energy and Functional Materials, IT-related Chemicals, Health and Crop Sciences, Pharmaceuticals. In 2019, Sumitomo Chemical reported $20.7B in sales thus getting the 63rd spot in our top 100 companies in Japan by sales in 2019.
64.Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. - $20.7B
Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. (further Tohoku) is an electric utility supplying the Tohoku region with 100V, 50Hz electricity. Many of its power generation facilities are hydroelectric power plants in over 200 locations. Tohoku’s business segments involve distribution and engineering to make it happen. The company was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Sendai. In 2019, Tohoku achieved $20.7B in sales.
65.Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. - $20.5B
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. (further Fast Retailing) is a retail holding company headquartered in Yamaguchi. Alongside its primary subsidiary Uniqio, Fast Retailing manages several other brands such as J Brand, Comptoir des Colonniers, Gu, Princesse Tam-Tam, and Theory. The company was founded in 1963 and has picked up the pace of success. In 2019, the combined effort of over 56,000 employees has lead to Fast Retailing scoring $20.5B in sales.
66.Suzuken Co., Ltd. - $20.3B
Suzuken Co., Ltd. (further Suzuken) is mainly a wholesale business of pharmaceuticals headquartered in Nagoya City. It is one of the four major pharmaceutical wholesalers along with Medipal Holdings, Alfresa Holdings, Toho Pharmaceutical, and Ashi no Kai group. It was founded in 1932 as a general shopping store. Additionally, two more business segments complement the manufacturing and sale of pharmaceuticals: Insurance Pharmacy and Health-care related services. As of 2019, Suzuken reported $20.3B in sales.
67.Japan Tobacco Inc. - $20B
Japan Tobacco Inc. (further JT) is a cigarette manufacturing company headquartered in Minato with the international headquarters being in Geneva. JT was founded in 1949, but is preceded by the earlier success of the government into a nationalized tobacco monopoly. On the international level, JT International division upholds the operations. In 2019, JT made the achievement of $20B in sales.
68.Toyota Industries Corporation - $20B
Toyota Industries Corporation (further Toyota Industries) is a machine maker company headquartered in Aichi. Even 94 years past the foundation date it still produces automatic looms. It is also the company from which Toyota Motor Corporation developed. As it stands, Toyota Industries is operating in five business areas: automotive, materials handling, electronics, logistics, and textile machinery. And on the note of its origins, the company is still manufacturing state-of-the-art looms. In 2019, Toyota Industries managed the feat of $20B in sales.
69.Asahi Kasei Corporation - $19.9B
Asahi Kasei Corporation (further AsahiKASEI) is a business operating in the chemical industry with headquarters in Chiyoda. The main products of AsahiKASEI are chemicals (caustic soda, chlorine, styrene, polyethylene, polysterene) and materials science. Four business sectors make up the core of the corporation: Chemicals & fibers, Homes & construction materials, Electronics, and Health care. Going after statistics, the chemical segment - 40% - is the most impactful. In 2019, AsahiKASEI reported $19.9B in sales.
70.Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. - $19.2B
Asahi Group Holdings, Ltd. (further Asahi) is a company active in the industry of beverages, more specifically beer, spirits, soft drinks and food business group. The main headquarters are in Sumida. Asahi was founded in 1889 under the name of Osaka Beer Company. Business structure is as follows: alcoholic beverages(40.5%), overseas business (32%), soft drinks business (17.2%), food business (5.4%) and other business (4.9%). All in all, Asahi finished 2019 with sales numbers counting $19.2B.
71.Nomura Holdings, Inc. - $19.1B
Nomura Holdings, Inc. (further Nomura Holdings) is a financial holding company and main member of the Nomura Group. The company’s chief headquarters are in Chuo. Together with its other financial services-oriented subsidiaries it provides financial services, management, and consulting to customers ranging from individuals to governments on a global basis primarily securities business. Nomura Holdings was established in 1925 with the spin-off from Securities Dept. of Osaka Nomura Bank Co., Ltd. In 2019, Nomura Holdings managed $19.1B in sales.
