Difference between revisions of "Kenko"

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== Advertisements ==
 
== Advertisements ==
In ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May 1929, Murakami advertised an inexpensive no-need-darkroom box camera called the '''It''', offered for {{yen|4.30|1929}}.
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In ''[[Asahi Camera]]'' May 1929, Murakami advertised an inexpensive [[no-need-darkroom]] box camera called the '''It''', offered for {{yen|4.30|1929}}.
 
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Revision as of 20:37, 27 February 2008

Kenko Co., Ltd. or K.K. Kenkō (株式会社ケンコー) is a Japanese company that currently (2007) sells (and perhaps makes) digital cameras and camcorders as well as all sorts of camera accessories, including tripods, filters, conversion lenses, etc. The company also distributes in Japan the products of Cosina (including the Voigtländer brand), Tokina, Slik, Daiwa, Cokin, Lee and Tamrac.

Early history

It seems that the company Kenko appeared as Murakami Shōkai (村上商会), already in existence in 1929.[1] In 1941–2, this company was already using the Kenko brand, and was also selling the Semi Kreis 4.5×6 folders; its main address was Tōkyō, Shinbashi, Kōsaten (東京・新橋・交叉点) and the address of the wholesales branch was Tōkyō, Nihonbashi, Honchō 2 (東京・日本橋本町二).[2]

In 1949, Murakami Shōkai announced the Kenko 35 camera, taking both 127 film and 35mm film.[3] The company name became Murakami Shashin Yōhin K.K. (村上写真用品株式会社) at some time. In 1953, it was still selling Kenko products, and was the distributor of the Union Semi folder and an authorized dealer for the Mamiya and Start cameras; the address was Minato-ku Shibashinbashi (港区芝新橋) 1–16 in Tokyo.[4]

In an advertisement dated 1954, the company name was given as Kenkō Shashin Yōhin K.K. (ケンコー写真用品㈱).[5] The main address was almost the same: Minato-ku Shibashinbashi (港区芝新橋) 1–6 in Tokyo, and there was a branch in Osaka. The Kenko products were made by various companies: according to the advertisement, the tripods were made by Eikensha (映研社) of Setagaya (Tokyo) and the filters were made by Tōyō Kōgaku Bōeki K.K. (東洋光学貿易㈱) of Ōmori (Tokyo).

For some reason, the Kenko official website gives 1957 as the founding date.[6]

Advertisements

In Asahi Camera May 1929, Murakami advertised an inexpensive no-need-darkroom box camera called the It, offered for ¥4.30.

Notes

  1. Advertisement dated February 1929 reproduced in Nostalgic Camera, a page by Toshio Inamura.
  2. Advertisements for the Semi Kreis reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.68.
  3. Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.351.
  4. Advertisement for the Union Semi reproduced in Kokusan kamera no rekishi, p.202.
  5. Advertisement for Kenko products dated 1954, reproduced in Shashin-Bako.
  6. Kenko company profile.

Bibliography

Links

In English:

In Japanese: