Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Company History
Murata History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1944 in Kyoto, Japan
When was Murata founded?
Murata was founded in 1944 in Kyoto, Japan by Akira Murata, making it 82 years old.
- Founded
- 1944
- Founding place
- Kyoto, Japan
- Founders
- Akira Murata
- Headquarters today
- Nagaokakyo, Kyoto, Japan
- Milestones documented
- 10 (1944–2026)
- Current CEO
- Norio Nakajima
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1944 | Murata Begins in Kyoto |
| 1950 | Murata Manufacturing Incorporated |
| 1970 | MLCC Expansion |
| 2012 | RF Monolithics Acquired |
| 2014 | Peregrine Semiconductor Deal |
| 2017 | Sony Battery Business Acquired |
| 2017 | Acquired Vios Medical |
| 2020 | Norio Nakajima Becomes President |
| 2022 | Resonant Acquired |
| 2026 | Fiscal 2026 Revenue Reaches ~$12.3 billion (1,830,856 Million Yen) |
- Where was Murata founded?
- Murata was founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1944. wikidata.org
- Who founded Murata?
- Murata was founded by Akira Murata.
- When did Murata start?
- Murata was founded in 1944.
- How old is Murata?
- Murata is 82 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Murata Manufacturing was founded in 1944 in Kyoto, Japan, by Akira Murata. Originally a small personal workshop, Murata began producing titanium-dioxide ceramic capacitors for heterodyne radios, which were essential for communications in post-war Japan. By the 1950s, the company successfully commercialized barium titanate, fundamentally altering the electronics industry. Murata rapidly became the indispensable supplier of miniaturized ceramic components that enabled the global explosion of portable electronics, from transistor radios to modern smartphones.
Founders
Akira Murata
Akira Murata founded Murata Manufacturing in Kyoto in 1944 to make ceramic capacitors. He built the company around ceramic materials technology, which later supported its ceramic filters and multilayer ceramic capacitors. His son Tsuneo Murata later served as president from 2007 to 2020. Akira Murata was born in 1921 in Higashiyama-ku. Murata was born on March 25, 1921 and died on February 3, 2006. He was president from 1950 to 1991 and honorary chairman from 1995.
Key Milestones
Murata Begins in Kyoto
Akira Murata starts a personal venture at a converted dyeing factory in Kyoto, producing titanium-oxide ceramic capacitors amid growing postwar demand for radio components.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMurata Manufacturing Incorporated
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is incorporated, formalizing the electronics-focused ceramics company as demand for components accelerates with the spread of commercial radio broadcasting.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMLCC Expansion
Murata expands in multilayer ceramic capacitors, a product family that becomes central to compact electronics.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRF Monolithics Acquired
Murata bought the US wireless-component maker RF Monolithics in 2012.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgPeregrine Semiconductor Deal
Murata acquires Peregrine Semiconductor to deepen RF and high-frequency device capabilities.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgSony Battery Business Acquired
Murata completes the acquisition of Sony's battery assets, broadening its battery and power-supply portfolio.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Vios Medical
Murata Manufacturing Co. acquired Vios Medical. Murata acquired Vios Medical, a US developer of wireless patient-monitoring systems, to build a healthcare monitoring business using its sensor and wireless module technology.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgNorio Nakajima Becomes President
Norio Nakajima is appointed President and Representative Director of Murata Manufacturing.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgResonant Acquired
Murata completed its purchase of the US filter designer Resonant in March 2022.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFiscal 2026 Revenue Reaches ~$12.3 billion (1,830,856 Million Yen)
Murata reports 5.0% revenue growth for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, with components contributing 63.3% of revenue and Greater China its largest regional market.
Source: corporate.murata.comMajor Acquisitions
Peregrine Semiconductor
2014Murata acquired American RF chipmaker Peregrine Semiconductor for about $471 million to add silicon-on-sapphire RF switch and front-end technology to its passive-component portfolio, positioning it to supply more complete radio-frequency modules for smartphones as device makers demanded higher integration.
Sony Battery Business
2017Murata agreed in October 2016 to acquire Sony's battery business, including Sony Energy Devices Corporation and related manufacturing operations in China and Singapore, for about $117 million (17.5 billion yen), completing the transaction in September 2017 and bringing roughly 8,500 Sony Group employees into Murata.
Vios Medical
2017Murata acquired Vios Medical, a US developer of wireless patient-monitoring systems, to build a healthcare monitoring business using its sensor and wireless module technology.
Keep researching Murata
Murata Company History FAQ
What are the major historical milestones in Murata Manufacturing's development since 1944?
Key milestones include its 1944 founding in Kyoto, developing barium titanate capacitors in 1949, pioneering ceramic filters in 1955, launching MLCCs in 1965, listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1973, building the world's smallest MLCCs throughout the 2000s, and acquiring Sony's battery business in 2017.
When did Murata develop its first ceramic filter and how did it change electronics?
In 1955, Murata developed the ceramic filter 'Ceralock' utilizing piezoelectric properties of ceramics, eliminating bulky IF transformers and enabling the miniaturization of transistor radios and TVs.
How did Murata lead the global miniaturization revolution in ceramic capacitors (MLCCs)?
Murata consistently established global miniaturization records: introducing the 0603 size (1991), 0402 size (1998), 0201 size (2004), 01005 size (2012), and the sub-millimeter 008004 size (2014) measuring just 0.25mm x 0.125mm.
What famous robotic brand ambassadors did Murata create to demonstrate its sensor technologies?
Murata created the famous robotics ambassadors 'Murata Boy' (a unicycle-riding robot, 2005), 'Murata Girl' (a balance-beam unicycle robot, 2008), and the 'Murata Cheerleaders' (synchronized sphere-balancing robots, 2014) to showcase its MEMS sensors and wireless tech.
How did Murata establish its dominant position in the global smartphone supply chain during the 2010s?
By investing aggressively ahead of demand cycles in ultra-small MLCC cleanrooms and RF module packaging, Murata became the indispensable primary component supplier for Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Chinese Android ecosystems.
When did Murata list its shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange?
Murata listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges in 1969 and was promoted to the First Section (now Prime Market) in 1973, establishing broad institutional ownership.
How has Murata's manufacturing footprint evolved across Asia and Europe over 80 years?
From a single Kyoto pottery district workshop, Murata expanded to over 100 subsidiaries and production facilities across Japan, Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Finland, Germany, and the United States.
What is the significance of Murata's 80th anniversary celebrated in 2024?
Murata's 80th anniversary in 2024 marked eight decades of continuous ceramic materials innovation, transforming an artisanal Kyoto workshop into a global tech pillar with over 75,000 employees powering the world's digital infrastructure.
How was Murata Manufacturing founded in Kyoto in 1944?
Murata was founded in October 1944 in Kyoto, Japan, by 23-year-old Akira Murata as a small workshop producing ceramic insulators for military and heterodyne radios. After World War II, Murata pioneered the industrial use of barium titanate ceramic materials, inventing ultra-compact ceramic capacitors that enabled the postwar Japanese electronics boom (transistor radios and color televisions).
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