23/10/2025
Yataro Iwasaki (1835–1885), a visionary Japanese industrialist, founded Mitsubishi in 1870 as a shipping company, leveraging opportunities during Japan’s Meiji Restoration. Born into a samurai family in Tosa (now Kochi Prefecture), Iwasaki transformed a small trading firm into a global conglomerate, expanding into mining, shipbuilding, and finance. His entrepreneurial spirit helped modernize Japan’s economy, establishing Mitsubishi as a leading zaibatsu. The iconic Mitsubishi logo, introduced in 1873, features three red diamonds, symbolizing reliability, integrity, and success. Derived from the Iwasaki family crest (three stacked rhombuses) and the Tosa clan’s three oak leaves, the name “Mitsubishi” combines “mitsu” (three) and “hishi” (water chestnut, denoting a diamond shape). The red color reflects passion and good fortune in Japanese culture, embodying Mitsubishi’s enduring legacy.