Established in 1921, Shimano today globally operates three key businesses, with sales offices and factories all over the world. Shimano continues supplying “captivating products” to help promote the bicycle and sports fishing cultures.

In February 1921, Shozaburo Shimano opened Shimano Iron Works in Higashi Minato in Sakai City when he was 26 years old. On the site of a demolished celluloid factory, he rented a nearly 40-square-meter area. The monthly rent was 5 yen. At that time, the new establishment had only a single lathe, measuring about 1.8 meters long. He had borrowed that machine from Sano Iron Works, benefiting from his friendship with its owner.