Eric Markowitz writes:

Picture yourself on a train hurtling toward Nara Prefecture, hours away from the neon-lit frenzy of Tokyo. The urban sprawl gives way to quieter vistas, the journey itself a pilgrimage of sorts. By the time you arrive in Ikaruga, at Hōryū-ji — widely considered one of the world’s oldest wooden temples — the modern world feels like a distant memory.

The temple, originally commissioned by Prince Shōtoku in the 7th century, stands as a living testament to history, its wooden beams weathered yet unyielding.

Each intricate detail — from the perfectly interlocked joinery, a hallmark of traditional Japanese architecture that has enabled its resilience for over 1,300 years, to the elegant curve of the pagoda’s roof — tells a story of craftsmanship so precise it seems almost supernatural.

Hōryū-ji is more than just a Buddhist temple; now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, it’s a monument to enduring artistry and ingenuity. The very existence of this structure, standing tall for over 1,300 years, speaks to a tradition of care and craftsmanship passed down through generations. It was built and maintained by Kongo Gumi, the world’s oldest construction company, which helped shape Japan’s architectural legacy. Kongo Gumi started as a family business in 578 AD when a Korean immigrant was invited to Japan to bring Buddhist architecture to life. For centuries, this company not only built temples but also maintained them, weathering the storms of history with the same resilience as their creations. Some modern-day companies are so fragile they can barely weather a modest shift in interest rates. Meanwhile, Kongo Gumi endured wars, plagues, and economic collapses — and kept building.

We live in a world increasingly dominated by short-termism. The average lifespan of S&P 500 companies has plummeted from 60 years to less than 20. Businesses rise and fall in the span of decades — sometimes just years. Meanwhile, the stories of Japan’s ancient companies offer a compelling counterpoint.

Japan is home to an extraordinary number of shinise, or long-established businesses. A 2008 study found that Japan had over 21,000 companies older than 100 years, including more than 3,000 that had crossed the 200-year mark. These firms are not just historical artifacts — they are vibrant examples of how to endure and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Their strategies — balancing tradition with adaptability, patience with practicality — are a masterclass in long-term thinking that today’s entrepreneurs and executives would be wise to study. [Continue reading…]