Musashi 100th Year Vision

GO FAR BEYOND

Break barriers and go on adventures!

According to the Musashi Philosophy,
for “a world where the earth and people coexist in prosperity and harmony,”
each one of us became adventurers and we will create a path forward into the future.

Looking to the year 2038, the 100th anniversary of our founding,
we will break free of limitations and perceived barriers to create new value
that is not an extension of the present.

Our Origin

The origins of Musashi,
passed down
from generation
to generation.

“We have seen the rise and fall of many companies throughout history. There are very few groups united by the spirit of Simplicity, Sturdiness and Consistent Sincerity that no longer exist. We must never forget this fact.”
(Founder: Yoshiharu Otsuka)

  • Consistent SincerityConsistent Sincerity
  • Simple and SturdySimple and Sturdy
Founder: Yoshiharu Otsuka
Founder: Yoshiharu Otsuka

Our Purpose

We contribute to enriched Harmony between
our lives and Earth, using our Passion for
technology and Wisdom for innovation.

Our Purpose Our Purpose

Our Way

The values each of us hold in our hearts.
Moving into the future with Exploration
and Exploitation of knowledge.

01Customer first
  • Recognize all stakeholders as “customers”
  • Understand their true needs and expectations
02Integrity
  • Act with integrity; do the right thing
  • Work with passion
03Be unique, be creative
  • Seek originality
  • Create with ingenuity
04Try first, learn fast
  • Challenge yourself
  • Learn from practice
05One Musashi
  • Respect individuality and diversity
  • Build the best team by leveraging the strengths of others
06Leadership and ownership
  • Act Proactively
  • Lead the solution
07Smile and thanks
  • Remember to smile
  • Be grateful

Growth

Becoming an “Essential Company”
needed by Society!

Net SalesNet Sales Number of LocationsNumber of Locations Number of Employees Number of Employees
FY2007 161.3 billion yen 21Locations in 10countries 9,000 employees
FY2019 238.5 billion yen 34Locations in 14countries 17,000 employees
FY2038 Go Far Beyond!
FY2007 FY2019
Net SalesNet Sales
161.3billion yen 238.5billion yen
Number of LocationsNumber of Locations
21Locations in
10countries
34Locations in
14countries
Number of Employees Number of Employees
9,000Employees 17,000Employees

Innovation

Company Origins

Founded as Otsuka Seisakusho
Manufacture of Aircraft Parts
Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Yoshiharu Otsuka, predicted that the world was entering an era of airplanes which would create new business opportunities. He left Nakajima Aircraft Company and founded Otsuka Seisakusho in Shinagawa, Tokyo in April 1938. The story of Musashi starts here.
Yoshiharu’s propeller bearing frame machining technology was appreciated by Nakajima Aircraft; as orders continued, his business grew steadily. Yoshiharu also established a school for youth to acquire a general education.
1938~1944 Founded as Otsuka Seisakusho Manufacture of Aircraft Parts
1938~1944 Founded as Otsuka Seisakusho Manufacture of Aircraft Parts
1938~1944 Founded as Otsuka Seisakusho Manufacture of Aircraft Parts

Business Transformation

1945~1955 Joining the sewing machine industry
1945~1955 Joining the sewing machine industry
1945~1955 Joining the sewing machine industry
Joining the sewing machine industry
As the war came to an end, Yoshiharu Otsuka dissolved his company and returned to Toyohashi, his hometown. To reflect the voice of his employees who lost their job, he decided to rebuild the company as Musashi Sangyo, which started in October 1946.
In addition to repairing fishing boat engines and farm equipment, he also focused on sewing machines; one of the peace industries in a period of clothing, food, and housing shortage.
Musashi’s business focused on satisfying the needs of local companies. It was the development of the balance cam, a critical sewing machine component, that created a lot of success for Musashi and led to significant growth and opportunity.
Musashi became a top balance cam manufacturer in Japan with a market share of 65%.

Entering to the Motorcycle/Automobile industry

Starting business with Honda
Establishment of an integrated production system
With a weakening sewing machine industry in Japan, Yoshiharu Otsuka started looking for new business opportunities for the balance cam technology . Thanks to a relationship made in Nakajima Aircraft, he started business with Honda.
In 1956, Honda placed its first camshaft orders with Musashi. In 1958, Soichiro Honda visited Musashi. The support of from Honda contributed to our start of becoming a major component parts manufacturer. Afterward, Musashi started receiving orders to produce components for automobiles. The foundation of an integrated production system from forging to assembly was initiated by a challenge to to increase cost competitiveness.
1956~1977 Entering to the motorcycle/automobile industry
1956~1977 Entering to the motorcycle/automobile industry
1956~1977 Entering to the motorcycle/automobile industry

Expansion into overseas markets

1978~1986 Starting business with Ford in North America
1978~1986 Starting business with Ford in North America
1978~1986 Starting business with Ford in North America
Starting business with Ford in North America
The motorcycle and automobile business continued to expand. Kyushu Musashi Seimitsu was established in Japan to support our growth in motorcycle powertrain parts. Musashi saw limitations in the Japanese market because of the oil crisis and decided to expand overseas.
Musashi started supplying oilless ball joints to Ford in 1978 and set up a sales office near Detroit, Michigan, USA in 1980 – our first step as a global company.
In 1984, the first Musashi plant outside of Japan was built in Battle Creek, Michigan to support new business with American Honda.

Motorcycle parts production in Asia

Expansion in Asia - Global production system in place
To advance in motorcycle markets in South East Asia, the first Asian Musashi plant was established in Thailand in December 1987. After Kimitoshi Otsuka became the second president in 1990, Musashi accelerated overseas expansion in the UK, Indonesia, Brazil, Canada, Hungary, and India. This supported further sales growth and customer diversity.
In 2005, all forging related technology was concentrated in the Akemi plant No.2, which was ready to provide the world with Musashi’s core gear technologies. In the same year, Musashi became listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s First Section.
1987~2007 Expansion in Asia - Global production system in place
1987~2007 Expansion in Asia - Global production system in place
1987~2007 Expansion in Asia - Global production system in place

Development of new Musashi brand products

2008~2016 Setup of Global Center - Establishment of a development system
2008~2016 Setup of Global Center - Establishment of a development system
2008~2016 Setup of Global Center - Establishment of a development system
Setup of Global Center - Establishment of a development system
With competition intensifying worldwide in the motorcycle and automobile markets, Hiroshi Otsuka became the companies president in May 2006. To guide the development of a global company, the “Musashi Philosophy”, was created and the 2020 Musashi Global Vision, “Be Unique!”, was implemented.
Overcoming a series of significant challenges, including the financial crisis of 2008 and large-scale natural disasters, Musashi developed several new products to support our global expansion. “Differential assemblies” became Musashi’s leading product.

Structure competing in the world and initiatives in new business

3 companies joining the Group - Establishment of Musashi AI
To become a corporate group capable of competing with other global suppliers in the world, Musashi acquired 3 companies: HAY Holding GmbH, a major forging manufacturer in Germany in 2016; ASADA KATAN CHUTETSUSHO, a company with unique casting technology in 2018; and JM Energy Ltd., in 2020, a company providing a sustainable energy solution for a carbon neutral future.
Also, a focus on improving society led to new business creation. By combining AI technology with manufacturing knowledge, Musashi AI Ltd. was launched in 2019 as a joint venture with SixAi Ltd. in Israel to realize a smart factory where humans and machines collaborate seamlessly.
2016~2020 3 companies joining the Group - Establishment of Musashi AI
2016~2020 3 companies joining the Group - Establishment of Musashi AI
2016~2020 3 companies joining the Group - Establishment of Musashi AI
2016~2020 3 companies joining the Group - Establishment of Musashi AI

Being an essential company solving social issues

2019~2021 Birth of in-house startups - Promotion of open innovations
2019~2021 Birth of in-house startups - Promotion of open innovations
2019~2021 Birth of in-house startups - Promotion of open innovations
2019~2021 Birth of in-house startups - Promotion of open innovations
Birth of in-house startups - Promotion of open innovations
An in-house business creation program held in 2017 produced startups: Agritrio that provides the “Nou-How” services matching individuals and farmers, and wkwk that provides nursery users with a sense of ease through the “icuco" information sharing services. In 2018 “MUSASHi Innovation Lab CLUE” was opened in front of Toyohashi Station to offer opportunities to people who are serious about innovations to create new businesses.
In 2020 Musashi invested in Waphyto which offers health and beauty products containing functional plant grown ingredients in the East Mikawa region. Musashi will proactively invest and collaborate with startup companies to accelerate our initiatives to become an essential company that solves social issues with technology.