Shojiro Ishibashi
Shojiro Ishibashi was born in 1885 in Japan. When he came of age,
Ishibashi entered the family business, making tabi, the traditional
Japanese footwear.
In 1923, he patented a rubbersoled tabi, which increased his fortunes.
He quickly looked to other rubber products to sell, and in 1928 began
producing tires. He was the first Japanese manufacturer to do so.
Ishibashi's goal was to sell his products overseas to British and
American consumers. He felt he would need an English name for his
company. Ishibashi means "stone bridge" in English." As a tip of the
hat to fellow rubber manufacturer Harvey Firestone, Ishibashi reversed
the words and came up with the Bridgestone Tire Company.
In 1988, Bridgestone bought Firestone. The companies were consolidated
in 1990 under a unified organization called Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc.
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