Photo: via Tumblr

brands The Best Japanese Brands  

Derrick Deane
2.2k votes 454 voters 16.1k views

Some of the biggest companies in the world are based in and began in Japan. From the world's largest automobile manufacturers like Toyota and Honda to leading electronics companies and trendy Japanese clothing brands, Japan has had a huge impact on the global business and consumer market. But which are the best Japanese brands available to consumers?

We've assembled the largest and most popular Japanese companies and brands for your perusal. Do you think Japanese entertainment brands like Sony and Nintendo are the greatest brands Japan has to offer? Or do you prefer their top quality automobiles? If we're talking Japan, you can't forget about the food and major companies like Ajinomoto and Kikkoman are listed here, along with the best whiskey in the world, which just happens to be Japanese. Who knew?!

Of course, Japan is also know for its leading photography companies like Nikon, Canon, and Olympus. Japanese fashion brands have also been taking the world by storm, with exports like Uniqlo and BAPE.

Which Japanese companies and brands from Japan do you think are highest quality and all around best? Vote below and if any of your favorite Japanese companies are missing, be sure to add them for others to vote on!
list ordered by

1
120 47
Sony Corporation is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Sony Corporation Consumer electronics, Motion Picture and Video Production, Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing - Home of PlayStation, Sony is valued at $8.4 billion.

2
102 40
Honda Motor Company, Ltd is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Honda Motor Company, Ltd Truck, Aerospace, Aviation - Automobiles, generators, lawn mowers, and personal watercraft.

3
105 42
Toyota is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Toyota Motor Vehicles and Passenger Car Bodies, Automotive industry - The world's leading auto manufacturer, valued at $35 billion.

4
113 47
Nintendo is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Nintendo Consumer electronics, Video game, Interactive entertainment - Home of Mario, Donkey Kong, and other classic video game characters.

5
79 32
Toshiba is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Toshiba Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing, Electronic Computer Manufacturing, Computer Storage Device Manufacturing - Founded in 1875, Toshiba produces electronics, appliances, IT, and communication equipment.

6
70 27
Panasonic Corporation is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Panasonic Corporation Consumer electronics, Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing, Home appliance - Valued at $5.8 billion, Panasonic is the world's fourth largest television manufacturer.

7
68 30
Lexus is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Lexus Automotive industry - The luxury division of Toyota Motor Corporation, Lexus is valued at $2.7 billion.

8
62 29
Suzuki Motor Corporation is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Suzuki Motor Corporation Automotive industry - In addition to cars, Suzuki also makes ATVs, wheelchairs, and outboard marine engines.

9
47 20
Sharp Corporation is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Sharp Corporation Consumer electronics - Sharp produces televisions, home appliances, mobile phones, and other electronic equipment.

10
53 26
Canon Inc. is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Canon Inc. Photography, Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing, Photographic Equipment and Supplies - Leading company in cameras, printers, and photography accessories. Valued at $11 billion.

11
44 20
Daikin is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Daikin Manufacturing, Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing, Air-Conditioning and Warm Air Heating Equipment and Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration Equipment - An air conditioner manufacturer headquartered in Osaka keeps things cool during summer.

12
49 24
Mitsubishi Group is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Mitsubishi Group Petroleum industry, Fossil fuel, Automotive industry - Spread out into many sectors including auto, mining, financial services, and more.

13
54 32
Subaru is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Subaru Manufacturing, Motor Industry, Automotive industry - Famous for those hatchbacks, the car company is part of Fuji Heavy Industries.

14
38 21
Hitachi is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Hitachi Special Industry Machinery, NEC, All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing - Highly diversified company operating in 11 business segments, including electronics.

The Best Shows Currently on the Air

15
41 24
Nikon Corporation is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Nikon Corporation Photographic and Photocopying Equipment Manufacturing, Photographic Equipment and Supplies - Maker of optics and imaging products as well as photography equipment.

16
44 27
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Financial Services, Motor Vehicles and Passenger Car Bodies, Automotive industry - Auto maker selling cars under the Nissan, Infiniti, Datsun, and NISMO brands.

17
37 25
Konica Minolta is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Konica Minolta Consumer electronics, Electronics industry - The photography company merged with Japanese company Minolta in 2003 to form Konica Minolta.

18
31 22
Shiseido is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Shiseido The fourth largest cosmetics company in the world with an estimated brand value of $2 billion.

19
24 17
Ajinomoto is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Ajinomoto Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing - The food and chemical company is the world's largest producer of the artificial sweetener aspartame.

20
25 18
Shimano is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Shimano Cycling - The $800 million company specializes in cycling components, fishing, and rowing equipment.

21
27 20
Uniqlo is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Uniqlo Fashion, Clothing, Retail - Stylish (but consumer friendly priced!) casual wear and high quality clothing.

List of 20+ Essential Brands for Writers

22
25 20
Kikkoman is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Kikkoman Best known for their soy sauce they also make alcoholic beverages such as shochu and sake.

23
25 20
ASICS is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
ASICS Sports equipment, Sportswear - Best known for their running shoes which consistently rank among the top performance footwear.

24
25 22
Bridgestone is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Bridgestone Manufacturing, Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) - Best known for their automotive tires, they also manufacture golf products and bicycles.

25
21 18
Olympus Corporation is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Olympus Corporation Photographic and Photocopying Equipment Manufacturing, Photographic Equipment and Supplies, Electronics industry - Optics and photography company currently partnered with Sony and Mitsubishi.

26
21 18
Suntory is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Suntory One of the oldest distillers in Japan is still making some of the country's best alcohol.

27
19 17
Ricoh is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Ricoh Photography, Office Machinery Manufacturing, Office Machines - Ricoh primarily manufactures copiers, cameras, printers, and production printing products.

28
15 13
Komatsu Limited is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Komatsu Limited Mining, Manufacturing - Construction, mining, and military equipment company valued at $1.9 billion.

29
23 27
A Bathing Ape is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
A Bathing Ape Clothing - Founded in 1993, "BAPE" (as the kids call it) makes trendy street wear style clothing.

30
13 16
Unicharm is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Unicharm Primarily sells adult and baby diapers, feminine hygiene products, and pet food.

31
12 15
Nomura Securities is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Nomura Securities Investment banking - Nomura Securities specializes in financial services and management and consulting. 

32
17 21
Yamazaki is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Yamazaki This Japanese whiskey won Best Whiskey in the World in 2014, beating all those great Scottish brands.

33
11 15
Korin is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Best Japanese Brands
Korin Top of the line Japanese chef's knives following hundreds of years old traditions of and many generations.