Our innovations: 1880s
THE BIRTH OF OKI
Established in 1881, Oki Electric began life trading as Meikosha. Ltd. in a rented two-storey office block in the heart of Tokyo. Its founder, Kibataro Oki was a silversmith by trade but nurtured a burning passion for innovation and firmly believed that Japan was on the verge of entering the age of communications.
Before Kibataro Oki passed away, he had already paved the way for his company to become the first successful telecommunications manufacturer in Japan. Subsequent leaders were able to steer the company towards its present position as a premier provider of devices for communication and information processing for businesses worldwide.
1881
Kibataro Oki introduced one of his first major inventions, the Microsound device, an Edison-type telephone using carbon powder instead of carbon rods (which were used by other manufacturers). The result meant improved sensitivity and sound quality and subsequently won Kibataro Oki a second-place award for innovation at the Second National Industrial Exhibition in Japan.
1885
Kibataro Oki hit the international stage at the International Exhibition of Inventions held in London, where he won a second-place award for his lacquer-coated wire telephone. This surrounded the existing copper wiring and led to improved sound quality.
1881
Kibataro Oki hit the international stage at the International Exhibition of Inventions held in London, where he won a second-place award for his lacquer-coated wire telephone. This surrounded the existing copper wiring and led to improved sound quality.
1889
Meikosha. Ltd. re-branded as Oki Electric Works in order to accommodate the increasing demand for electric wire telephones - and so the OKI brand was born.
