Sharp's roots date back to the year 1912, when on the 15th of September 1912, a young and enterprising Tokuji Hayakawa established a small metalworking shop in Tokyo . At the tender age of 19, Mr. Hayakawa started his own small metalworking shop manufacturing to-order his newly patented "Tokubijo", a snap buckle for western-style belts. From this humbling start of a business, with just 50 yen and 3 employees, he went on to become the founder of Sharp Corporation - one of the world's largest manufacturers of consumer electronics products, information equipment and electronic components.

Almost one hundred years after the company was founded Sharp still sticks to its roots and principles. Bringing to the world one-of-a-kind technologies ranging from the first solar-powered calculator to the largest commercially available LCD monitor, from copiers to solar cells, from air purifiers to steam ovens, and from microelectronics to microwave ovens, Sharp covers all of the needs of the contemporary lifestyle. It remains Sharp's goal to improve the quality of people's lives – through the use of state-of-the-art technology and its commitment to innovation, quality, environmental protection, value and design.