Company Overview
Company Name: OKINO CORPORATION
Company Location: 325 Kamimatsuba, Uwa-Cho, Seiyo-City, Ehime 797-0046
Phone: +81 (0)894-62-2211
Representative: Kenzo Okino (President)
Start of Business Activities: 1933
Corporate Establishment: February19th, 1951
Business Offerings: Driving School, Restaurant, Hotel, Auto Rental, Gas Station
Capital: 160 million yen (as of August 1st, 2016)
Number of Employees: 50 (as of August 2st 2016)
Company History
First Period (Rope Manufacturing):
1933 - Yaichiro Okino first begins making ropes from phormium tenax to supplement his farming (rice) and sericulture businesses.
1950 - Takeshi Okino (son of Yaichiro Okino) positions the business as a supplier to the fishing industry by increasing the strength of the ropes, mainly by incorporating Manila hemp and sisal which he imports from the Philippines. Takeshi had joined the company in 1946, having been an elementary school teacher for 13 years prior.
February, 1951 - Okino Seiko Corporation founded
September, 1954 - The rope factory is destroyed by Typhoon Toyamaru
1955 - A new factory is built, however the mainstream adoption of synthetic fibers would prevent the rope business from further expansion.
The factory of Okino Seiko Corporation
Second Period (Driving School):
1961 - Takeshi Okino founds a driving school in Uwa. He would built a single driving course through a bamboo grove for his two Toyota Crowns and one sanrinjidosha (a three wheeled truck). A 30 minute practice session would cost 250 yen.
July, 1963 - The school is officially authorized by the public safety commission
January, 1968 - The first motorcycle course is offered
April, 1968 - Okino Gas Station opens
December, 1968 - The company name is changed to OKINO CORPORATION
Uwa Driving School
Third Period (Restaurant, Business Hotel):
December, 1968 - UWA PARK, a bowling alley and drive in restaurant opens
March, 1976 - The bowling alley is closed, however the restaurant remains open
September, 1978 - A business hotel and wedding hall opens in Uwa
April, 1983 - A lodging business is established specifically for students of the driving school
October, 1985 - Takeshi Okino becomes chairman and Kazu Okino takes over as company president
Uwa Bowl
Fourth Period (Present Day)
June, 2004 - Company founder Takeshi Okino dies at the age of 92
October, 2013 - Uwa Park Rent a Car opens
September, 2015 - Kazu Okino becomes company chairman. Kenzo Okino becomes the third generation of Okinos to take over the company's presidency. Jiro Okino is given the role of Managing Director
Uwa Park Hotel