About

About Toshiba

Toshiba is a world leader and innovator in pioneering high technology, a diversified manufacturer and marketer of advanced electronic and electrical products spanning from information & communications systems, digital consumer products, electronic devices and components, power systems, to industrial and social infrastructure systems and home appliances. For over 50 years, Toshiba has been developing and manufacturing storage solutions used by most major IT and consumer electronics brands.

Corporate Data


Basic Corporate Data (As of March 31, 2023)
Company Name	Toshiba Corporation
Headquarters Address	1-1, Shibaura 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Founded	July 1875
President and CEO	Taro Shimada
Common Stock	¥200,869 million
Net Sales (Consolidated basis)	¥3,361.7 billion (FY2022)
Fiscal Year	April 1 to March 31
Number of Employees (Consolidated basis)	106,648
Number of Shares issued	433,137,955 shares
Total Number of Shareholders	228,229
Stock Exchange Listings	Japan: Tokyo and Nagoya

Our Values

Toshiba delivers technology and products remarkable for their innovation and artistry – contributing to a safer, more comfortable, more productive life.

Passion

We set the standard in service delivery, through a commitment to excellence, innovation, ongoing learning and continuous improvement. We stand up for what we believe in, and go the extra mile in all our activities.

Reliability

We know how important trust is in relationships. That’s why in all our interactions, behaviours and practices within the company and with our partners, stakeholders and the wider community we strive to communicate trustworthy, honest and loyal.

Respect

We acknowledge and respect differences in each other, and provide a fair, supportive environment in which all individuals and staff are valued, and encouraged to engage in open two-way communication.

Environmental Vision

Environmental Policy

Environmental Policy
EU RoHS Directive

Introduction

Toshiba Group wishes to contribute proactively to build a sustainable society. Accordingly, we are promoting environmental management with the aim of attaining the target of the Environmental Vision 2050: People Leading Rich Lifestyles in Hamony with the Earth.

Environmental Vision 2050

Toshiba Group’s Environmental Management

Through value creation inspired by our three over-arching themes-“Surprise and Sensation,” “Safety and Security,” and “Comfort”-coupled with a wholehearted commitment to the prevention of global warming, control of chemical substances and efficient utilization of resources, we intend to bring our business process and products into ever closer harmony with the needs of planet Earth. We believe these efforts will help to build a sustainable society.

At Toshiba, environmental considerations are built into management. We are promoting environmental management covering all products and all business processes in every phase from manufacturing and usage through to recycling of end-of-life products. This approach is the practical realization of our slogan: “Committed to People, Committed to the Future. Toshiba.”

People leading rich lifestyles in harmony with the Earth – this is the ideal situation envisaged in 2050.

Under this overarching vision, we consider our mission, as a corporate citizen of planet Earth, is to create new, enriched value while minimizing environmental impacts.

Approaches and Actions to make the Vision a Reality

Toshiba Group aims to make Environmental Vision 2050 a reality by pursuing two complementary approaches: while the Energy Approach emphasizes the stable supply of reliable energy and mitigation of climate change, the Eco Products Approach focuses on creating new value in harmony with the Earth. In addition, we are taking action on two standpoints-while Eco Process seeks to minimize environmental impacts throughout business processes, Eco Program is a concerted effort to tackle environmental issues in collaboration with our stakeholders.

Toshiba Corporate Environmental Management

Committed to People, Committed to the Future. Throughout product development, Toshiba assesses the environmental impacts of product usage while striving to maximize recovery of resources and recycling of end-of-use products.

The European Union (EU) RoHS Directives (the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment) 2002/95/EC and its Recast 2011/65/EU are intended to reduce the use of substances that may pose risks to human health or the environment. The Member States’ RoHS laws shall ensure that since July 1, 2006 most new electrical and electronic equipment cannot be sold in the EU if it contains the following substances above specified concentrations (w/w) at the homogeneous material level:

– Lead (0.1%)

– Mercury (0.1%)

– Cadmium (0.01%)

– Hexavalent chromium (0.1%)

– Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0.1%)

– Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (0.1%)

It is Toshiba’s policy to conduct business in a manner consistent with sound environmental management practices and to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Through the use of design and best management practices, improvements are continually made to conserve natural resources and to minimize the use of environmentally sensitive materials.

The Toshiba Semiconductor & Storage Products Company has been pursuing ecologically friendly production methods for a long period of time. As well as complying with the ISO14001 standard certification, Toshiba has already implemented a “Green Procurement” program during November 2002, enabling Toshiba to manufacture environmentally friendly products before the introduction of the RoHS directive which was mandatory since July 2006.
Our first RoHS compliant Memory products were introduced in 2003.
Since the beginning of Q3/2005 our entire Memory consumer product range is fully RoHS compliant.

History

1873 – 1890 <

First steps taken toward creation of Toshiba

The factory founded in the Ginza in Tokyo

In 1873, the Ministry of Engineering, responsible for ...

In 1873, the Ministry of Engineering, responsible for promoting Japan’s modernization, commissioned Hisashige Tanaka to develop telegraphic equipment. He built a factory in Tokyo in 1875 to accommodate the growing government orders. This was Tanaka Seizo-sho (Tanaka Engineering Works), one of the forerunners of Toshiba.

Separately, in 1878, Ichisuke Fujioka developed Japan’s first arc lamp while studying at the Imperial College of Engineering (now the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Tokyo), under the tutelage of visiting professor William Ayrton. At that time, Japan had to import all of its electric lamps. Fujioka established Hakunetsu-sha Co., Ltd. in 1890 to manufacture light bulbs in Japan.

Separately, in 1878, Ichisuke Fujioka developed Japan’s first arc lamp while studying at the Imperial College of Engineering (now the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Tokyo), under the tutelage of visiting professor William Ayrton. At that time, Japan had to import all of its electric lamps. Fujioka established Hakunetsu-sha Co., Ltd. in 1890 to manufacture light bulbs in Japan.

1932 – 1939 <

Integrated electrical equipment manufacturer formed from merger of Shibaura Engineering Works (heavy electrical machinery) and Tokyo Electric Company (small electrical equipment)

Tokyo Denki (Tokyo Electric Company) Kawasaki Complex (Former Horikawacho Works–Closed in 2000)

In the 1930s, the Japanese government introduced ...

Tokyo Denki (Tokyo Electric Company) Kawasaki Complex (Former Horikawacho Works–Closed in 2000)
In the 1930s, the Japanese government introduced a ban on the production of home appliances to conserve vital supplies of iron and steel for the war effort. Hard times had arrived.

As co-members of the Mitsui zaibatsu, led by Mitsui Bank, Shibaura Seisaku-sho (Shibaura Engineering Works; the name was changed from Tanaka Engineering Works in 1893) and Tokyo Electric Company held cross-shareholdings and collaborated in a number of areas. As technology made progress, demand started to grow for home appliances that incorporated the advances made in heavy electrical machinery. The two companies merged in 1939 to form Tokyo Shibaura Denki (Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd.). The merged entity already had ambitions to become one of the world’s leading electrical machinery manufacturers.

1957 – 1972 <

Revitalization of management and business structures paves way for overseas expansion

Overseas Sales Subsidiary, Former Toshiba Hawaii, Inc.

Japan’s economy was booming by ...

Japan’s economy was booming by the second half of the 1950s, leading to rapid growth in the heavy electrical machinery, electronics and communications industries. Sales and profits grew quickly as Toshiba created novel products, developed original technologies, expanded existing factories and built new production facilities to supply fast-growing markets.

Overseas sales and manufacturing subsidiaries were established to develop the international business. The ratio of overseas sales gradually rose.

1984 – 1999 <

Name changed to Toshiba; in-house company system promotes swifter decision-making

Toshiba Building

In 1984, the abbreviated form “Toshiba” ...

In 1984, the abbreviated form “Toshiba” replaced Tokyo Shibaura Denki as the company’s official name (in English, “Toshiba Corporation” was adopted in 1983).

Economic stagnation in Japan during the 1990s led Toshiba to adopt the “concentration and selection” approach to achieve sustained growth. This involved concentrating resources in sectors with growth potential and new businesses, while selectively promoting growth in mature or declining sectors through reform and restructuring. Toshiba focused resources on semiconductors and expanded the PC business.

In 1999, Toshiba introduced the in-house company system, creating eight in-house companies. Authority was delegated to these in-house companies to give them greater autonomy and promote faster decision-making.

> 1891 – 1931

Growth, disaster and reconstruction

The factory founded in the Ginza in Tokyo

The two firms pioneered the development of ...

The two firms pioneered the development of electrical equipment in Japan. Tanaka Engineering Works created a waterwheel-powered turbine generator and Hakunetsu-sha developed a radio transmitter. In 1921, Tokyo Denki (Tokyo Electric Company; the name was changed from Hakunetsu-sha in 1899) invented the double-coil electric bulb, later recognized as one of the six great inventions in the history of bulb technology.

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 caused immense damage, leaving over 100,000 people dead. Tokyo Electric Company lost many employees in the disaster. The company’s vice-president helped to inspire the reconstruction effort, famously remarking that, “A factory without a research institute is like an insect without antennae.” The company actively entered new fields around this time, including medical equipment and radio devices.

> 1940 – 1956

Major government supplier during the war; exports to Southeast Asia begin in postwar period

Former Horikawacho Works, immediately after the war

As the war intensified, the company grew ...

As the war intensified, the company grew rapidly by filling state orders for radios, vacuum tubes and other military supplies, and also producing generators. However, production capacity was crippled by bombing raids targeting factories.

As production recovered in the postwar years, the company focused initially on heavy electrical machinery and then returned to making smaller electrical equipment as reconstruction progressed. New sales subsidiaries were established to strengthen sales capabilities and exports to Southeast Asia began.

> 1973 – 1983

Technical capabilities reinforced to realize consistent growth

The first Japanese word processor

The economic downturn following ...

The economic downturn following the first oil crisis in 1973 led Toshiba to invest more heavily in R&D, the rationale being that profits were the source of corporate vitality while technology was the driving force behind business development. The expanded R&D organization and higher R&D spending led to many new technologies that were the first in the world or the first in Japan

Other initiatives to improve production technology, maintain high quality, save labor and shorten delivery lead-times contributed to significantly higher profits.

> Since 2000

Creating World’s First and World’s No. 1 products and services to prevail amid global competition and become an even stronger global contender

The World’s first 3D LCD TV not requiring dedicated glasses

Rapid economic growth in developing countries ...

Rapid economic growth in developing countries and sluggish growth in the developed world have led to major changes in economic and industrial paradigms in the 21st century. To prevail amid intensifying global competition transcending national borders, Toshiba continues to focus on restructuring businesses to reinforce their earnings base while seeking to transform its overall business structure by targeting growth sectors and emerging businesses. The aim is to become an even stronger global contender by pursuing the “concentration and selection” approach while creating World’s First and World’s No. 1 products and services that are cost-competitive and captivate customers.