Sharp became a household name as one of the first major producers of LCD technology, but misjudged investments have left it grappling with mounting losses and saddled with huge debts.
A restructuring plan failed to stop the bleeding and Sharp on Wednesday agreed to be bought by Taiwanese multinational Hon Hai Precision, the world's biggest electronics supplier, better known as Foxconn.
It also marks a watershed for Japan's once-mighty home electronics sector, which nurtured global brands including Sony and Panasonic but has struggled in the face of foreign competition.
This tradition of innovation continued through the 1970s, with the mass production of liquid crystal display (LCD) screens for calculators that were later adapted for computers, smartphones and tablets.
Sharp is a global leader in those small- and medium-sized screens, which are a key asset for Hon Hai.
But that turned into a weakness when the market became more competitive after the 2008 global financial crisis and lower-cost rivals dug into Sharp's profits.
鴻海の社長の計画はこうだそうです。
“Eyeballs plan”
Sharp makes much of its money from third-party sources in mobile, large TV, and solar panel manufacturing. The Osaka-based company was among three suppliers for iPhone 6 displays, an area believed to be of particular interest to Taipei-based Foxconn. Sources told the Wall Street Journal that Foxconn boss Terry Gou is aiming to become a leading supplier of screens for high-end smartphones, part of a company strategy Gou apparently calls his “eyeballs plan.”
プランというとこのプランを思い出すな。ゴーンさん。
Yoshikazu Hanawa warmly welcomed the Revival Plan. He said, "This Plan marks a new era for our proud company and we will implement it with indomitable resolve."
In announcing the Revival Plan, Ghosn underlined Nissan's commitment to become globally competitive, achieving growing market share and profits based on a bold brand and desirable products.
"This plan shows that not only can Nissan recover and become a strong company again, but, walk tall with Renault as the world's fourth largest car maker," Ghosn said, "We must be bold to be strong again."
さて、どうなりますことやら。
ごんといってもこれではありませんよ。
もうこの人たちもこうなっちゃったかな？
金鳥という会社もすごいね。