163 companies in Okinawa celebrate 50th anniversary

According to a survey by Tokyo Shoko Research, Okinawa branch, there are 163 Okinawan companies that mark their 50th anniversary in 2017. That is 46 more than in 2016.

By location, 35 of the companies are located in Naha. Urasoe is home to 21 companies. The largest of the celebrating companies by sales is Japan Trans Ocean Air, a subsidiary of Japan Air Lines. Hokugan, a frozen foods storage and transportation operator, is on the second place, and Okinawa Kyodo Gas is the third.

By industry, 78 of the companies are in the construction industry. 28 are in wholesale, 13 are retailers. Transportation companies count for nine, and eight operate in other service businesses.

In all Japan, there are 23,514 companies that mark the 50th anniversary this year, and the majority are in construction, which counts for 41.9 percent of them or 9,865 companies.

According to Tokyo Shoko Research, the oldest company in Okinawa Prefecture is Shinzato Shuzou awamori distillery, which celebrates its 171st anniversary in 2017. 19 other Okinawan companies have more than 100 years of history.

In addition, there are 44 companies that mark their 60th anniversary, 16 companies the 70th, one company the 80th, and three will be 90 years old.