ABOUT US

BASIC INFORMATION

Company Name: KONGO CO., LTD.

Head Office: 3-8-1 Kamikumamoto, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture 860-8508

Factory: 1825 Yatsu, Aza Kaminakama, Kashima-machi, Kamimashiki-gun, Kumamoto Prefecture 861-3107

Capital: 60 million yen

Annual Sales: 9.35 billion yen (Fiscal year ending September 2024)

Founded: 1947

Established: 1951

Number of Employees: Approximately 300

Board Members: President and Representative Director ／ Toshihiko Tanaka
Senior Managing Director ／ Hidefumi Takatsu
Managing Director ／ Akira Nagano
Director ／ Naruyuki Fukuda
Outside Director ／ Shungo Kai
Auditor ／ Tomoko Shibata
Advisor ／ Hiroko Tanaka

BUSINESS

Manufacturing and sales of storage-related equipment for offices, warehouses, and cultural facilities.

PAGE PRODUCT

PAGE USE CASE

ONLINE SHOP

STEEF
Online store for iron furniture
(Japan only)

KAKEHI
Online store for document storage supplies (overseas shipping available)
*We can also provide individual support. Please contact us.

CORPORATE MOVIE

Corporate Introduction Movie

Kashima Factory Introduction Video

REGISTRATION LICENSING

Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) Mark Certification

Certification Category	Bookshelves & Storage Racks
JIS Number	JIS S 1039
Certification Number	JQ0806009

JIS-certified products are those that have undergone objective inspections and evaluation tests by a third-party organization (registered certification body) under the JIS certification system. This system aims to improve the reliability of product performance and quality, allowing the product to bear the JIS Mark.

ISO

"The Kumamoto factory has obtained ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization, an international standardization body composed of leading standardization organizations from various countries."

KONGO HISTORY

"Our history at KONGO is a journey of technological advancement.
We have walked the path toward becoming a company that contributes to society and culture through 'safety' and 'innovation.
'Here, we introduce our story."

1947

1947: Founded Kongō Surveying and Drafting Instrument Store in front of Suizenji Station, Kumamoto City (individually owned business).

1948: Relocated to Shinshigai, Kumamoto City.

1949: Relocated to Sakae Street, Kumamoto City.

Baggage Storage at Suizenji Station Front

Founder Genji Taniwaki at the Age of 18

1950

1951: Established Kongō Co., Ltd. on Ginza Street, Kumamoto City.

1953: Affected by the June 26 Great Flood.

1955: Held a Commemorative Business Show for the Renewal.

1957: 10th Anniversary of Founding
Transitioned into a Manufacturer
Established a Steel Furniture Factory on Ginza Street, Kumamoto City

1959: Established a Safe and Steel Furniture Factory in Kamikumamoto
Launched the Kongō Super Safe and Iron Door

Inside the factory built on Ginza Street,
all employees took a commemorative photo with the first manufactured product in the background.

The first manufactured product,
an iron door.

1960

1964: Certified as a JIS (Japan Industrial Standards) approved factory for lockers and document cabinets.Started exports to the Southeast Asian market.

1967: 20th Anniversary of Founding
Delivered bookshelf racks to Kumamoto Prefectural Library
Supplied multi-tier steel bookshelves to Seikei University

1968: Supplied steel racks to the National Diet Library.

1969: Certified as a JIS (Japan Industrial Standards) approved manufacturer for fire-resistant document cabinets.

Various safes, including the Kongō Super Safe.

1970

1970: Certified as a JIS (Japan Industrial Standards) approved manufacturer for steel bookshelves.
Supplied bookshelves to the National Archives of Japan.

1971: Certified as a UL Standard Approved Factory (the first in the domestic safe industry).

1972: Established Kumamoto Ricoh Sales Co., Ltd.

1973: Established Kongō Building Co., Ltd. (now Taniwaki Building Co., Ltd.).

1974: Launched the handle-operated mobile shelving
(Mobile Shelving Z).

1975: Established Hotel Sunroute Kumamoto Co., Ltd.

1976: Established Kongō Construction Equipment Sales Co., Ltd.
Launched the "Challenge Proposal System".

1977: 30th Anniversary of Founding
Announced six types of 30th Anniversary Super Safes and four types of safe iron doors.

1979: Established Kongō Surveying Instruments Co., Ltd.

Mobile Shelving Z

Nicknamed "Red Z", affectionately known among employees.

1980

1982: Established the company logo.

1983: Launched the "Library Series" open-shelf bookcases for libraries.
Established Kashiwa Kosan Co., Ltd. (now KTS Co., Ltd.).

1984: Slide Iron Door received the Invention Encouragement Award from the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.
"Library Series" open-shelf bookcases for libraries won the Good Design Award (the first in the prefecture).
Round-handle Mobile Floor Flat Board Z received the Japan Material Handling Association’s Excellent Logistics Equipment Award.
Mobile Shelving Z underwent a model change to a center-lock system.
Established Asuka Co., Ltd..

1986: Established a FA (Factory Automation) facility at the Kamikumamoto Factory.
Launched the information magazine "PASSION".

1987: 40th Anniversary of Founding
Genji Taniwaki received the Outstanding Business Manager Award for Regional Social Contribution.
Mobile Shelving Z received the Invention Grand Prize Merit Award.

"Library Series" Open-Shelf Bookcases

FA Factory at the Time

1990

1990: Genji Taniwaki received the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Honor.

1991: Introduced the Automated FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System) Line.
Kunio Miyazaki assumed office as the second president and announced the "Great Declaration on Human Development".
Supplied Mobile Shelving Z, wall-mounted storage units, and mobile shelving to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

1993: Renovated the Kamikumamoto Factory.
Registered as a First-Class Architect Office.
Launched the Seismic Isolation Mobile Shelving Z.

1994: The Seismic Isolation Mobile Shelving Z received the New Frontier Award.

1995: The Seismic Isolation Mobile Shelving received the Invention Grand Prize Merit Award.

1996: The wooden reading desk for libraries won the Good Design Gold Award.
Sponsored the 100th anniversary project of Natsume Sōseki’s visit to Kumamoto, contributing to the bronze statue of Natsume Sōseki, which is currently installed in front of Kamikumamoto Station.

1997: 50th Anniversary of Founding
Received the Regional Revitalization Contribution Company Award from the National Land Agency (the first in the prefecture).
Kunio Miyazaki received the Minister of Science and Technology Award.
Received the Minister of Construction’s Technical Evaluation for the development of a seismic isolation floor system.
The "Puzzle" educational play equipment for children won the Good Design Gold Award.

Seismic Isolation Experiment
Scene 4o

Completed Seismic Isolation Mobile Shelving Z

2000

2000: The Super Safe G Series Mini won the Good Design Award.

2001: Obtained ISO 14001 Certification.
HPZ won the Good Design Gold Award.
Supplied Book Robo to Waseda University Central Library.

2002: Supplied bookshelves to the Kansai-kan of the National Diet Library.

2003: Won the 5th Automatic Identification System Grand Prize and the President’s Award from Nihon Kogyo Shimbun (Japan Industrial Newspaper).
Supplied a video asset storage system to NHK Archives.

2004: Obtained Special Construction Permit from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Supplied a complete storage system to the Kyushu National Museum.

2005: Launched the Seismic Isolation Bookshelves.

2007: 60th Anniversary of Founding

2009: Toshihiko Tanaka assumed office as the third president and established the corporate philosophy:
"Contributing to society and culture with security and innovation."
Launched the Inclined Sliding Shelf.
Supplied Seismic Isolation Display Cases to the Nara National Museum.

The first-generation automated book storage system, Book Robo.

Inclined Sliding Shelf

2010

2014: Storage Room Door passed the 2-hour fire resistance test.
Established the Long-term Vision and Medium-term Management Plan.

2015: Established a new logo mark.
Founded Space 2020 Co., Ltd..

2016: Factory affected by the Kumamoto Earthquake.
Launched the new Z Slim Z Series.

2017: 70th Anniversary of Founding

2018: Established a new factory in Kashima Town.
As a project member for the establishment of Miyakonojo City Library, received the Good Design Award.
Inclined Sliding Shelf received the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director's Award.
Won the 1st Kumamoto Bright Company Award and the Work Style Reform Promotion Category Award.

2019: The IoT implementation in the factory received the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the 8th Japan Manufacturing Awards under the Connected Industries - Outstanding Collaboration Category.

New Z Slim Z Series

New Factory in Kashima Town

2020

2020: The Bookshelf Mirror received the Invention Encouragement Award in the 2020 Kyushu Regional Invention Awards, presented by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.

2021: The stackable book cart received the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director’s Award in the 2021 Kyushu Regional Invention Awards, presented by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.

2022: Launched the medium-lightweight mobile shelving ZBLM.
The energy-saving system for mobile shelving received the Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director’s Award in the 2022 Kyushu Regional Invention Awards, presented by the Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.

2024: Launched the personal storage-equipped mobile shelving "TORIE".

Personal Storage-Equipped Mobile Shelving "TORIE"