# Shinise

Shinise (老舗, lit. 'old shop(s)') are Japanese businesses that have been in operation for at least for a hundred years, some more than a thousand years. Japan has significantly more very old businesses than any other country, and Shinise products enjoy a particular prestige in Japan.

## Characteristics

Long-established companies are particularly common in Japan, which is home to over half of the world's companies that are older than 200 years. As of 2020, the country had more than 33,000 shinise, of which 3,100 were older than 200 years, 140 older than 500 years and at least 19 who say that they have been operating for over 1,000 years. Shinise are a source of national and regional pride, and are the subject of governmental promotion, business management books and travel guides.
Frequently, shinise are relatively small family businesses guided by a particular set of principles (kakun). These principles tend to emphasize continuity, tradition, longstanding business relationships, sticking to the core business, accumulating cash reserves and avoiding debt and other risk. This limits growth but helps the companies weather even severe crises. Some shinise, however, have grown to be leading players in their fields, such as the video game maker Nintendo or the general contractor Takenaka.
The prevalence of shinise in Japan is attributed to the particularities of Japanese culture, such as reverence for traditions and one's ancestors, and Japanese history, such as the country's relatively long global isolation prior to the 19th century. To ensure familial continuity, shinise owners without children of their own sometimes adopt one of their male employees. One effect of the high prestige that shinise enjoy in Japan is that startups are less respected or appreciated than elsewhere.

## Shinise products

Buying something from a shinise imparts particular prestige in Japan, connoting the "pinnacle of taste". This Japanese preference for shinise is distinguished from the appreciation most societies have for luxury goods in that it does not only include expensive, long-lasting items such as cars and watches, but also everyday objects and food.
This consumer preference may have roots in Japanese society's predilection for conformity, which makes it so that somebody who owns a shinise item is certain not to be ridiculed for it, and frequently respected. As a result, brand loyalty to shinise is often intense, which in turn helps these companies survive for a long time.

## List of shinise

This list aims to include all shinise founded before 1600, and selected notable younger shinise.
| Company | Location | Business | Date of establishment |
| Kongō Gumi | Osaka, Osaka | Construction | 578 |
| Nisiyama Onsen Keiunkan | Hayakawa, Yamanashi | Hot spring hotel | 705 |
| Koman | Toyooka, Hyōgo | Hotel | 717 |
| Hōshi Ryokan | Ishikawa Prefecture | Hotel | 718 |
| Genda Shigyō | Kyoto, Kyoto | Ceremonial paper goods | 771 |
| Tanaka Iga Butsugu | Kyoto, Kyoto | Buddhist religious goods | 885 |
| Nakamura Shaji | Ichinomiya, Aichi | Construction | 970 |
| Ichimonjiya Wasuke | Kyoto, Kyoto | Confectionery | 1000 |
| Shumiya-Shinbutsuguten | | Religious goods | 1024 |
| Takahan Ryokan | Yuzawa, Niigata | Hotel | 1075 |
| Geto Onsen | Kitakami, Iwate | Hotel | 1134 |
| Sudo Honke | Kasama, Ibaraki | Sake | 1141 |
| Tsuen Tea | Uji, Kyoto | Teahouse | 1160 |
| Gorobee Ame | | Confectionery | 1177–1180 |
| Fujito [jp] | | Confectionery | 1184 |
| Kikuoka | Nara, Nara | Herbs | 1184 |
| Sakan Ryokan | Sendai, Miyagi | Hotel | 1184 |
| Ito Tekko | | Metalworking | 1189 |
| Shirasagiyu Tawaraya | Kaga, Ishikawa | Hotel | 1190 |
| Kotabe Foundry | Sakuragawa, Ibaraki | Foundry | 1190–1199 |
| Tosen Goshobo | Kobe, Hyōgo | Hotel | 1191 |
| Arima Onsen Okunobo | | Hotel | 1191 |
| Yoshinoya Irokuen | Kaga, Ishikawa | Hotel | 1192 |
| Notoya | Komatsu, Ishikawa | Hotel | 1311 |
| Higashiya | Yonezawa, Yamagata | Hotel | 1312 |
| Sankogan | Gose, Nara | Pharmacy | 1319 |
| Korenya Shingetsuan | | Confectionery | 1327 |
| Kanbukuro | | Confectionery | 1329 |
| Kuroda Sennendo | | Confectionery | Bef. 1333 |
| Maruya Hatco Miso | Okazaki, Aichi | Miso | 1337 |
| Takata | | Textiles | 1346 |
| Shiose [jp] | | Confectionery | 1349 |
| Uiro (company) [jp] | | Pharmacy | 1368 |
| Matsumaeya | | Seaweed | 1392 |
| Namariichi | | Chemicals | 1395 |
| Kameya Mutsu | | Confectionery | 1421 |
| Saku | Saku, Nagano | Hotel | 1428 |
| Yunushi Ichijoh | | Hotel | 1428 |
| Surugaya [jp] | | Confectionery | 1461 |
| Senkiya | | Tea | 1462 |
| Owariya | Kyoto, Kyoto | Restaurant | 1465 |
| Inoue | | Tea | 1467 |
| Mizuta Gyokuundo | | Confectionery | 1477 |
| Hiraizumi | | Sake | 1487 |
| Fukkodo | | Brushes | 1501 |
| Tsutaya | | Confectionery | 1502 |
| Chigira Jinsentei | Ikaho, Gunma | Hotel | 1502 |
| Kawabata Doki [jp] | | Confectionery | 1503 |
| Ishiga Honten | | Religious goods | 1504–1520 |
| Kenbishi | | Sake | Bef. 1505 |
| Toraya | Tokyo, Tokyo | Confectionery | Abt. 1520 |
| Yamaji | | Sake | 1532 |
| Honke Kojima | | Confectionery | 1532 |
| Matsuokaya | | Sauce | 1534 |
| Tomita Sake Brewery [jp] | | Sake | 1534 |
| Izumiya Ryokan | | Hotel | 1536 |
| Shusen Kurano | | Sake | 1540 |
| Fubokaku | | Hotel | 1546 |
| Kunitomo Kyutaro | | Gunpowder | 1547 |
| Yoshinogawa | | Sake | 1548 |
| Konishi Sake Brewery [jp] | | Sake | 1550 |
| Sasaiya | | Confectionery | 1550 |
| Izeki | | Clothing | 1550 |
| Itamuro Onsen Daikokuya | Nasushiobara, Tochigi | Food | 1551 |
| Meien Co., Ltd. | Nagoya, Aichi | Salt | 1554 |
| Chiso | Kyoto, Kyoto | Clothing | 1555 |
| Chikiriya Jihei [jp] | | Clothing | 1555 |
| Kaikodo | | Lacquerware | Bef. 1558 |
| Kanbayashi Shunsho [jp] | | Tea | 1558 |
| Ueda | | Sake | 1558 |
| Aritsugu | Kyoto, Kyoto | Knives (originally swords) | 1560 |
| Nabeya Bi-tech Kaisha | Seki, Gifu | Machine parts (originally kettles, pots, and bells) | 1560 |
| Okamoto | | Iron | 1560 |
| Hasemoku | | Real estate | 1560 |
| Ichijoh | | Hotel | 1560 |
| Toyahachi | | Pottery retail | 1560 |
| Yamagatakan | | Hotel | 1561 |
| Otaya Hanuemon | | Confectionery | 1562 |
| Shima Tamura | | Hotel | 1563 |
| Kojiya | | Food | 1563 |
| Taiko Mochi [jp] | | Confectionery | 1565 |
| Nishikawa (company) [jp] | | Beds | 1566 |
| Kichijiya | | Oil | 1568 |
| Suishodo | | Pharmacy | 1570 |
| Isekusuri Honpo | | Pharmacy | 1570 |
| Kikuhime | | Sake | 1570–1600 |
| Yoshida Gennojo | | Religious goods | 1572 |
| Hosoji Inbanten | | Stamps | 1573 |
| Nakano | | Fish | 1573 |
| Muroji [jp] | | Sauce | 1573 |
| Otsuya [jp] | | Retailing | 1573 |
| Shintsu | | Building material | 1573–1592 |
| Sonodaya | | Confectionery | 1573–1592 |
| Kanbayashi | | Tea | 1573–1592 |
| Mitsuboshien Kanbayashi Sannyu | | Tea | 1573–1592 |
| Ishikawa | | Stone | 1573–1592 |
| Nikenjayamochi Kadoya | | Brewery | 1575 |
| Meboso Hachirobee | | Fishing flies | 1575 |
| Yanagiya Hozen | | Confectionery | 1575 |
| Nippon Kodo | | Incense | 1575 |
| Heihachi Jaya | | Restaurant | 1576 |
| Kishigon | | Hotel | 1576 |
| Gyokueido | | Confectionery | 1576 |
| Kobaien | | Ink | 1577 |
| Mineyo | | Fish | 1577 |
| Lamp no Yado | | Hotel | 1578 |
| Tomihiro | | Clothing | 1578 |
| Kiguraya | | Clothing | 1579 |
| Nakaya | | Herbal medicine | 1579 |
| Higashimaru | | Sauce | Abt.1580 |
| Hatano Paint | | Paint | 1582 |
| Indenya | | Leather | 1582 |
| Koju | | Incense | 1582 |
| Onomichizousu | Onomichi, Hiroshima | Vinegar | 1582 |
| Tamaruya | | Udon noodles | 1582 |
| Minowa | | Lacquerware | 1582 |
| Godayu Kikuya | | Confectionery | 1584 |
| Yamato Intec | | Metalworking | 1584 |
| Kikuya | | Confectionery | 1585 |
| Mercros | | Retailer | 1585 |
| Tenshoen | | Tea | 1585 |
| Matsui | | Construction | 1586 |
| Oyama Shaji | | Construction | 1586 |
| Chogoromochi | | Confectionery | 1587 |
| Josuian | | Confectionery | 1587 |
| Okeka | | Furnaces | 1588 |
| Ibasen | | Fans | 1590 |
| Kogure | | Hotel | 1591 |
| Yamashina | | Utensil | 1591 |
| Osugiya Sobee | | Confectionery | 1592 |
| Meimon Sakai | | Sake | 1592 |
| Kikyoya | | Confectionery | 1592 |
| Nezameya | | Restaurant | 1592 |
| Koya | | Sake | 1593 |
| Yamamotoya | | Seed | 1593 |
| Kungyokudo | | Incense | 1594 |
| Fujinoya | | Fertilizer | 1594 |
| Chojiya | | Restaurant | 1596 |
| Toshimaya | | Sake | 1596 |
| Takimo | | Food | 1596 |
| Oteramochi Kawaido | | Confectionery | 1596 |
| Tazen | | Metal | 1596 |
| Gyokurinbo | | Hotel | 1596 |
| Nagata Bunshodo | | Publisher | 1596–1615 |
| Heirakuji | | Publisher | 1596–1615 |
| Hayashikan | | Clothing | 1596–1615 |
| Kojima | | Sake | 1597 |
| Kuwanaya | | Confectionery | 1597 |
| Uzu Kyumeigan | | Pharmacy | 1597 |
| Ryujin | | Sake | 1597 |
| Chinjukan | | Pottery | 1598 |
| Wakanoura Imoto | | Pharmacy | 1598 |
| Watahan | | Construction | 1598 |
| Nakazato Moemon | | Pottery | 1598 |
| Minatoya Yurei-kosodate-ame | | Confectionery | Bef. 1599 |
| Umai Chemical | | Chemicals (originally salt) | 1599 |
| Boun | | Hotel | 1599 |
| Kyorin | | Clothing | 1599 |
| Shichiyama Hospital | | Hospital | 1599 |
| Takenaka | Osaka, Osaka | Construction | 1610 |
| Gekkeikan | Kyoto, Kyoto | Sake and plum wine | 1637 |
| Nintendo | Kyoto, Kyoto | Video games (originally playing cards) | 1889 |
| Takamatsu Construction Group | Yodogawa-ku, Osaka | Construction | 1917 |
| Kikkoman | Noda, Chiba | Soy sauce and other food | 1917 |