The Sharp Story

The company name alone encapsulates its philosophy: relentlessly pursuing continuous improvement of the customer experience. This journey began with founder Tokuji Hayakawa, who developed the very first mechanical pencil, named "Ever-Sharp"—an invention that gave the company its name and paved the way for decades of innovation.

Hayakawa founded Sharp in 1912 with the aim of transforming the lives of individuals and businesses worldwide through creative and sincere means. This philosophy continues to drive the company's family culture and its contribution to society through technology, generation after generation.

1912 — Tokubijo Buckle. His very first invention: an adjustable belt buckle without holes, conceived after he noticed a movie character wearing a poorly fitted belt.

1915 — The pencil that would give the company its name. Hayakawa designed a push mechanism for the lead, integrated into a solid metal shaft: the Hayakawa mechanical pencil. Perfected with a very fine lead, it became the "Ever-Ready Sharp" pencil, quickly shortened to simply "Sharp Pencil"—a name that became integral to the company's identity.

1925 — Crystal Radio. After the Kanto earthquake, Hayakawa resumed operations in Osaka and turned to radio. In April 1925, his team assembled Japan's very first domestically produced crystal radio receiver.

1929 — Vacuum Tube Radio. Technology evolved from individual earphone receivers to loudspeaker devices for group listening, with significantly improved sound quality.

1953 — First Mass-Produced Japanese Televisions. The TV3-14T cost 175,000 yen at the time, a considerable sum compared to a fresh graduate's starting monthly salary (5,400 yen). Sharp's goal was to reduce costs to make the device accessible to homes.

1962 — Microwave Oven. After developing the R-10 in 1961 (the first Japanese model), Sharp became the first company to mass-produce microwave ovens the following year, convinced that this appliance would one day become essential in kitchens.

1963 — Solar Modules. Research into solar energy, which began in 1959, led to mass production. By May 1963, these modules powered a lighted buoy in Yokohama port—a first maritime application.

1964 — Electronic Desktop Calculator. The fully transistorized CS-10A sold for 535,000 yen (the equivalent of a small car) and, decades later, received a prestigious IEEE Milestone for its contribution to the history of electrical engineering.

1966 — Turntable Microwave. The R-600 became the world's first model with this feature, which would become the industry standard.

1969 — Pocket Calculator. Thanks to a chip supplied by an American company linked to the Apollo space program, Sharp launched the first electronic calculator that fit in the palm of your hand.

1970s-1980s — A Decade of Diverse Innovations: three-door refrigerator with separate vegetable compartment (1973), world's first LCD screen calculator (1973), picture-in-picture television (1978), front-loading VCRs (1979), first commercial Japanese word processor (1979), and microwave oven with integrated cooking sensors (1979).

1982 — Computer-Television Fusion. The X1 became the world's first device to combine a PC and a television on the same screen.

Late 1980s — LCD Screens. Sharp produced a 14-inch color TFT LCD screen prototype (1988), which won the Eduard Rhein Prize in Europe, then launched the first 100-inch home LCD projector (1989).

1991 — Wall-Mounted LCD TV, the largest in the industry at the time with its 8.6 inches.

1999 — 1-bit Amplifier, a world first allowing ultra-fast sampling for sound close to the original, a technology later integrated into AQUOS televisions.

2000-2001 — Mobile and AQUOS Era. Launch of the first phone with an integrated camera (the J-SH04), followed by Plasmacluster ion technology and the very first AQUOS brand color LCD television.

2005-2008 — The Race for the Largest Screen. Sharp consistently broke records: 65-inch Full HD LCD TV (2005), 108-inch commercial display (2008), and first television with integrated Blu-ray player (2008).

2010-2015 — Technological Diversification. The company multiplied innovations: multi-screen display system with the world's thinnest bezel, 3D Quattron televisions with four primary colors, GALAPAGOS tablet, IGZO screens for smartphones, RX-V100 robot cleaner, and even a robot receptionist (Tuly) installed in a Japanese hotel.

2016 — RoBoHoN, a small humanoid robot-phone capable of walking, dancing, and communicating, developed with a researcher from the University of Tokyo.

2017-2018 — Towards Ultra-High Definition. 8K televisions and camcorders, 4K then 8K satellite broadcasts, and the deployment of AIoT cloud services connecting refrigerators, air conditioners, and other smart devices.

2019-2021 — Repositioning in Audio. Onkyo became a distributor of the Klipsch audio brand in Japan (2019). In July 2020, American company VOXX became the exclusive distributor of Onkyo, Pioneer, and Integra brands for the Americas. Then, in June 2021, a joint venture was formed between VOXX (through its subsidiary) and Sharp to jointly acquire Onkyo's audiovisual division, with Sharp having manufactured Onkyo products in its Malaysian factory for several years already. The breakdown of this joint venture is approximately 77% for VOXX and 23% for Sharp.

2022 — 110th Anniversary. On September 15, Sharp Corporation marked its 110th anniversary since Hayakawa's first metalworking workshop opened in Tokyo in 1912. This was an opportunity to highlight the scale of its impact in the solar sector: over 60 years of photovoltaic activity, more than 50 million solar panels shipped, and 16.5 GW of electricity produced, equivalent to a 179-megaton reduction in CO2. The company also continues to invest heavily in research and development—approximately 7% of its annual revenue—particularly in IGZO display technology.