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Hitachi

Social Innovation

Corporate Museum "Hitachi Origin Park" Opens at Hitachi’s Birthplace

On November 5, 2021, Hitachi, Ltd. opened Hitachi Origin Park, a corporate museum, in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, the place where Hitachi was founded. This facility introduces the spirit of Hitachi’s foundation and its history.

Toshiaki Higashihara, executive chairman of Hitachi, presided over the opening ceremony, saying: “I want people to visit Hitachi’s birthplace and learn about our founder, Namihei Odaira’s founding philosophy. While Hitachi’s operations will continue to expand globally, I don’t want to forget our origins here in Hitachi City.”

A place for interacting with Hitachi’s history


Panoramic view of Origin Park

Hitachi, Ltd. was founded as a division that repaired machinery at Hitachi Mine in 1910. Hitachi Origin Park was built to convey Hitachi’s 110 years of history since foundation.

This facility consists of four buildings: the Odaira Memorial Museum, the Sogyo Goya, the Omika Golf Club, and the Omika Club. The facility is available for anyone to use, not just Hitachi employees and local residents. One of the facility’s features is that it uses 100% renewable energy for its power needs.

Hiromi Numata of the Hitachi Origin Park Operation Group said of its purpose: “The facility was built for Hitachi employees to learn about the spirit of our foundation and as a place where new dialogue can be generated with local residents and our business partners from all around the world.”

The four facilities that comprise Origin Park


Odaira Memorial Museum


Vision of the road to Hitachi’s foundation

The Odaira Memorial Museum exhibits Hitachi products and other items, and here visitors can learn about Hitachi’s corporate philosophy, the road to its foundation, and its initiatives toward solving social issues. The facility will be used for field trip activities for elementary school students and for seminars.


The restored Sogyo Goya


A 110-year-old 5 HP induction motor

Sogyo Goya is a restored factory at which Hitachi’s founding product, the 5 HP induction motor, was born. Visitors can see restored tools and a surviving 5 HP induction motor in operation.


Omika Golf Club


Omika Club

The 6-hole Omika Golf Club was built in 1936 as a place where employees can enjoy a game of golf and foreign guests are welcome too as well. Today, anyone can use the golf club.

Moreover, the Omika Club was built adjoining the golf club as a clubhouse. A historical building, it will be operated as a place that serves meals and that fulfills other hospitable functions.

Virtual exhibitions in 2022


Hiromi Numata, a guide at Origin Park

A virtual exhibition will also be held in 2022 on the web, showcasing the facility’s exhibits.

Numata, who manages the facility, encouraged people to visit, saying: “We convey the roots of the company to Hitachi employees and help local residents learn about Hitachi’s thoughts regarding social contribution. We would like to walk hand-in-hand toward the future with everyone.”

Outline of Hitachi Origin Park

Item Overview
Opening day November 5, 2021
Address 6-19-22, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Opening hours 09:00 to 16:00 (closed Wednesdays), free admission
Access 10 min walk from the West Exit of Omika Station on the JR Joban Line
Total floor area 4,553m²
Land area 231,818.99m² (including the golf course)
  • Interviewer/author: Kai O’Connor
  • Release Date: Nov. 25, 2021