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Sharp Corporation is a Japan-based electronics manufacturer, founded in 1912.
It takes its name from one of its founder's first inventions, the Ever-Ready Sharp mechanical pencil, which was invented by Hayakawa Tokuji in 1915 [1] (http://www.vintagepens.com/Eversharp_history.htm).
After the pencil business was destroyed by the Great Kanto (Tokyo) Earthquake in 1923, the company relocated to Osaka and started designing the first Japanese radio sets. These went on sale in 1925. In 1953 it started production of the first television sets in Japan. Other notable achievements include the world's first all-transistor desktop calculator in 1964 and the first LCD calculator in 1973. LCD technology continues to be a key part of Sharp's product range, in both the component and the consumer-appliance sides of the business.
Core technologies and products include: solar panels, audio-visual entertainment equipment, LCD panels, projectors, office copiers, microwave ovens, cash registers, CMOS and CCD sensors, and flash memory.
Recent products include the ViewCam, the Ultra-Lite notebook PC, the Zaurus personal digital assistant, and the Aquos flat screen television.
Net sales for the year 2003/4 were $16.8 billion.
The Corporation employs 46,600 staff, of which around half live outside Japan.
It operates from 64 bases in 30 countries and its products are distributed in 164 countries worldwide. Many of its regional subsidiaries trade under the name "Sharp Electronics".
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