Founder "Shigeru Nishimi"
Always act for somebody elseThe founding spirit
continues to this day
Biography of Shigeru Nishimi
Shigeru Nishimi was born on 5 May 1895 (Meiji 28) at the foot of Mount Minou, overlooking the Chikugo Plain in Fukuoka Prefecture. He was the eldest son of a prestigious family.
After teaching for over ten years in Fukuoka and Tokyo, he graduated from Nihon University in March 1923 (Taisho 12) and became the editor-in-chief of Monas Publishing House.
In September 1925 (Taisho 14), he founded a publishing department at the Ritsumeikan University and served under Kinmochi Saionji, becoming a director of the Ritsumeikan University Publishing Department in April 1928 (Showa 3).
He also served as the secretary to the university president and Kinmochi Saionji.
After leaving Ritsumeikan University, he established Kodo Gakuen (a private academy) in 1936 (Showa 11).
In 1940 (Showa 15), he founded the Bellows Research Institute.
In 1948 (Showa 23), he founded Saginomiya Seisakusho Inc. and became its president.
Founder's PhilosophyBellows Research Institute
In 1940 (Showa 15), at the age of 45, Shigeru Nishimi, still an educator, began researching the domestic production capabilities of bellows, which were an essential component for automatic oxygen regulators used in aircraft flying in the stratosphere. This research was completed in October 1944 (Showa 19).
The purpose of establishing the factory was driven by humanitarianism, to save the lives of pilots.
After World War II, the institute initially produced for the U.S. occupying forces. Amid Japan's industrial revival, the utility value of bellows grew rapidly, leading the institute to grow at an unexpected speed.
The Journey of Challenge
After the institute was officially incorporated as Saginomiya Seisakusho, Inc. in April 1948 (Showa 23), Shigeru Nishimi was convinced that automatic controls would drive the Industrial Revolution. He began inventing automatic controls, applying bellows technology, and succeeded in developing and inventing hundreds of types.
Furthermore, as the industry rapidly advanced year by year, automatic controls required higher performance, uniform quality, and a wider range of products. Saginomiya responded to these demands by establishing overseas bases and expanding its facilities.
Pillars of Management
Immediately after World War II, Japan and its manufacturing industry struggled, and Japan's reconstruction seemed unimaginable.
In this crisis, where workers asserted their rights from a democratic perspective against managers seeking their profits, Shigeru Nishimi believed:
"A company is a public entity, neither solely for workers nor managers. There is a limit to the business's profits and what managers and workers can share. There will be no conflicts if these three are tied to the company's development and balanced among all parties."
He replaced the general purpose of earning profit on capital with the goal of "happiness for all involved in the company," making it the pillar of his management.
Pioneer in Human Development
His belief was, "It is not a company that pursues profit, but everything lies in the happiness of all employees. It lies in forming individuals who are equipped with all the necessary conditions."
He focused the basic principle of company management on "the happiness of all employees," establishing a rewarding work environment and a stable wage system. Each individual started from a democratic perspective, and all employees strived for harmony, with executives finding supreme joy in enhancing the happiness of all employees.
All employees dedicated themselves to the company's prosperity and fulfilled their responsibilities. The sight of all employees uniting and working together demonstrated a rare approach to modern management practices at the time.
Learning from the Founder
Our founder, Shigeru Nishimi, was an educator who devoted himself to manufacturing bellows out of humanitarianism. After establishing the company, he left us the founding spirit that "Company should be the place where people find their happiness, and all the management focus should be based on that idea."
Our management philosophy, “Creation of happiness for all employees and all people,” encapsulates this founding spirit. Our corporate motto is the guideline for realizing this management philosophy.
Saginomiya's management philosophy and corporate motto represent the identity of all employees. As we inherit this teaching, we keep the principle of "Always act for somebody else" in mind and strive daily to grow as a company that contributes to society.
