Sharp Celebrates 80 Million units sold worldwide

1912: Founder, Tokuji Hayakawa, was awarded a patent for the "Tokubijo" snap buckle (he was 18 years old at the time).On September 15, 1912, he established a small metalworking shop in Tokyo.The company began with three employees and initial capital of just under 50 yen.Mr. Hayakawa continued to research and improve techniques to manufacture a metal writing instrument which, at the time, had not yet been developed.In 1915, he invented a mechanical pencil named the "Ever-Sharp Pencil" that took the world by storm.The name of the company today and its trademark are derived from this product. In May 1935, the structure of the company was modified to become a joint-stock corporation under the name Hayakawa Metal Works Institute Co. (capitalization: 300,000 yen.)