Your humble servant recently made the most of his honeymoon in Japan by visiting the Osaka History Museum. Who would have thought that such a trip would provide me with so much material for an article on this tire blog? It may seem strange, but it all makes sense when you remember that the Land of the Rising Sun has long been a significant industrial power. As far back as the 19th century, the Sumitomo company - a name that may ring a bell - was producing refined copper on a large scale from Osaka, in the heart of the Kansai region. If you have Dunlop or Falken tires today, it's thanks in part to everything I'm about to tell you!
Nearly five centuries of history
It all began in the 16th century in Kyoto, the ancient capital, during the Edo period. At the time, Sumitomo was far from the industrial giant it is today. Then called Izumiya, the company produced copper ornaments using an innovative technique inspired by Western techniques. For several centuries, the company continued to expand its workshops, but it wasn't until the 1800s, during the Meiji Restoration, that it really took off.
Let's move on to the early 20th century, a rather unstable period marked by wars. After decades of dearth, Sumitomo became more important than ever. The arrival of the American-style capitalist economy enabled the manufacturer to diversify its activities. From electronics to catalysts made from precious metals, the economic boom was conducive to the development of new products... including tires!
Sumitomo tires, even today
Sumitomo's interest in tire production goes back a long way, to 1906 to be exact. It was at this time that the Japanese manufacturer began investing in the British company Dunlop, another well-known name today. After the Second World War, the collaboration became even closer and the company took control of the Dunlop brand in Asia.
Clearly inspired by this collaboration, Sumitomo launched its own tire brand, Falken, in 1983. In 1985, the brand entered North America. Even today, the brand is recognized for its quality products, with a focus on combining performance and affordability. Just take a look at the Ziex ZE960 or the Azenis FK510.
Finally, after a short collaboration with Goodyear, Sumitomo still owns the Dunlop brand, but only on the Japanese market. So if you own a vehicle from a Japanese manufacturer fitted with Dunlop tires, you can say thank you to Sumitomo and the generations of copper workers who made it all possible!
