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Revision as of 04:41, 17 February 2006
Bridgestone Corporation (株式会社ブリヂストン) was founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi (石橋 正二郎 Ishibashi Shōjirō) in the city of Kurume, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a literal translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning "stone bridge" in Japanese. It is currently the second largest tire manufacturer in the world, next to Michelin, and is Japan's largest tire manufacturer.
After World War II Bridgestone started manufacturing motorcycles, but its main income was from supplying tires to its rival motorcycle makers such as Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha and it was later decided to cease motorcycle manufacturing.
In 1988 it acquired American tire manufacturer Firestone Tire and Rubber Company.
Bridgestone supplies tires to the Ferrari, Williams, Toyota, Midland and Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula One teams.
The Bridgestone Cycle Co., Ltd. offers bicycles under its own brand and under the Anchor brand. Their initial entry into the American market was as manufacturers of mountain bicycles, whose philosophy was traditionalists eschewing the latest fads and styles; although their products were viewed as well-made, this did not provide desired market penetration, however.