Through the years, still a household name

By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon

Sharp Corp. founder Tokuji Hayakawa

It seems hard to believe that one of the world’s largest and most famous electronics companies, Sharp Corp., materialized from a pencil.

 Actually, the company’s founder had developed a nickel-coated propelling pencil that was more comfortable to use than the existing mechanical pencil made of celluloid. It was renamed in 1916 as the Ever-Ready Sharp Pencil. Shortened to Sharp, it became the company name.“The humble beginnings of Sharp can be traced to a man of vision, Tokuji Hayakawa, whose passion was to invent life-changing technologies,” said Takahiro Tanaka, president and general manager of Sharp Philippines Corp. (SPC), during the twin celebrations of Sharp Corp.’s 100th anniversary in the electronics industry and SPC’s 30th year in the country at the historic Manila Hotel.Tanaka credited the Sharp’s founder’s idealism and motivation for the company’s growth, as well as for  consumer satisfaction with the company’s products that boost of quality, durability and excellence.
“Even after he had lost his premises and families in the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923, Hayakawa never stopped inventing new products. He manufactured the first crystal radio set in Japan. Sharp finally started the mass production of the first television set in 1953. Mr. Hayakawa’s vision was ‘for every family to own a television,’” the SPC head shared.

Takahiro Tanaka, president and general manager of Sharp Phils.

After 100 years in service, Sharp Corp., which has headquarters in Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan, now offers a wide array of technologies and useful products such as televisions, washing machines, kitchen appliances, solar cells, electronic medical equipment, optical semi-conductors, computers, light emitting diode (LED) devices and a lot more. With all of these products, Sharp earned worldwide recognition and became a global household name.

Eco-positive
Incidentally, SPC is celebrating its 30th anniversary this September. The company was able to produce high-quality products that met the requirements of Philippine consumers. Locally, Sharp continues to expand its market share through its business partners nationwide, providing quality products and high standard customer service.
Sharp is known here in the country for being the producer of large-capacity washing machines and karaoke, which, according to Tanaka, was the “SPC’s answer to the Filipinos’ love for singing.”
“Our washer has gained high-market reputation here and abroad because of its innovative and user-friendly features. Meanwhile, our karaoke has evolved into a more sophisticated product,” said Tanaka.

Aware of the rapid deterioration of the environment due to the global warming, Sharp and all its affiliate companies worldwide have united to achieve its corporate vision of becoming an “eco-positive company.”
“We are continuously making and innovating products, using environmental technologies, that would help lessen, if not totally eliminate, pollutants in the air,” explained the SPC executive.
As pencils are made with erasers for the inevitable mistakes, however, so did the Sharp go through some rough sailing in its history. “Sharp has definitely survived, but not without difficulties. As you may all well know, our company is encountering difficulties again. Sharp Corp. is in the process of revitalizing its business and is exploring all options to improve its financial condition,” stressed Tanaka. He also denied reports that Sharp is negotiating the sale of its businesses such as its copier and air-conditioner manufacturers. 

Bigger and better

Sharp unveiled Aquos 80 inch LCD TV

Befitting the double celebration, Sharp Corp. unveiled its newest products for the local market like the Sharp Aquos LCD/LED TV, with its Quattron technology that brings “viewing experience much closer to life.” For, as the saying goes, “the bigger the better.”
The Sharp’s Aquos 80 inch, which is touted as the biggest LCD/LED TV in the local market, was unveiled to the press together with Aquos 70 inch and Aquos 60 inch. Aside from its color precision system, Aquos LCD/LED TV equally boasts its excellent viewing panel.
Also introduced was another one-of-its-kind company product, the Sharp Active Multi-Media or SAMM LCD Videoke, which serenaded the members of the press with brilliant sounds and sights. Replacing the traditional karaoke, SAMM LCD Videoke is by far the more highly functional multimedia system.
“We want our local output to be part of the continuous economic growth of the Philippines, with the vision that our employees must grow together with the company in achieving its financial growth in the years to come. We’d like to add LED TV on our local production portfolio,” Tanaka said.

Sharp Active Multi-Media or SAMM LCD Videoke

Caring company
As part of the company’s social corporate responsibility, SPC is actively working with charitable institutions, the private sector and non-government organizations to help people in most need, especially in times of calamity. “People in calamity-stricken areas were provided free use of washing machines to wash their soaked and mudded clothes and SPC technicians helped repair customers’ damaged appliances,” said Tanaka.
Also, the firm came up with “My Sharp, Our Future” campaign, by donating a portion of the campaign’s proceeds to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), SPC’s chosen charity. “We do realize that the world’s future is our children of today and this campaign aims to support them. We will provide vaccines to children, giving them the opportunity for better health,” averred Tanaka.

“My Sharp, Our Future” is SPC’s regional campaign in which P20 from every purchase of Sharp LCD/LED TV and PCI products were to be donated to the PGH. Its campaign period ran from June 7 to Sept. 15.
Dr. Jose Joven Cruz, MPH coordinator of PGH, received the donation at the press launch, which he said, “We are glad Sharp Corp. has chosen Outpatient Pediatrics Department (OPD) where our children patients can receive appropriate medical attention using this donation.”
The PGH-OPD houses more than 2,000 children patients who cannot afford to pay medical expenses. Most of them are suffering from common ailments such as pneumonia, genital disorder, malnutrition and physical deformities.
Other recent beneficiaries of SPC were Elsie Gaches, Tuloy Foundation and Chosen Children Foundation, which received refrigerators, washing machines and TV units. Through donation of quality home appliances, SPC affirmed to provide safer and more livable shelter for children under the care of charitable institutions in the country.
Tanaka expressed gratitude to their Filipino clients for their unwavering support to the company and he bared that the Sharp has many more in its sleeve that will awe the buying public and even its competitors, as the company always produce products inspired by the founder’s vision: “Make products that others want to imitate.”
Tanaka made this wish: “To our friends in media and business partners, thank you once again. Let’s continue working together in the next 100 years!” -- By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon 

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