Murata vs TDK: Founders, CEOs and History
Murata was founded in 1944 by Akira Murata and is led by Norio Nakajima. TDK was founded in 1935 by Kenzo Saito, Dr. Yogoro Kato and is led by Noboru Saito.
Company facts
Founders
Murata
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.
TDK
Kenzo Saito
Kenzo Saito founded Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K., later TDK, on December 7, 1935. He was inspired by Dr. Yogoro Kato's statement that original technology is the source of true industry, and set up the company to industrialize ferrite.
Dr. Yogoro Kato
Dr. Yogoro Kato co-invented ferrite with Dr. Takeshi Takei at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1930. TDK credits his philosophy with inspiring Kenzo Saito to found the company, and TDK co-developed ferrite cores with the institute.
CEOs and their tenures
Murata
- Akira Murata1944–1991
Founder and President
He incorporated Murata Manufacturing in 1950 and led it until 1991, when his son Yasutaka succeeded him.
Source - Yasutaka Murata1991–2007
President
Murata grew with the mobile-phone market as a supplier of ceramic capacitors and filters. His brother Tsuneo Murata succeeded him in 2007.
Source - Tsuneo Murata2007–2020
Former President and Chairman
His tenure is credited with scaling Murata's MLCC manufacturing capacity to meet rapid smartphone-driven demand while also diversifying the company's revenue base ahead of the eventual maturing of the smartphone market, positioning his successor to pivot the c…
Source - Norio Nakajima2020–present
Representative Director and President
Under Nakajima, Murata has worked to reduce its historical dependence on smartphone-cycle demand by building out higher-reliability component lines for electric vehicles and data-center power applications, markets that carry longer design-in cycles and more st…
Source
TDK
- Shigenao Ishiguro2016–2022
President and Chief Executive Officer
Led TDK through the acquisitions of Micronas (2016) and InvenSense (2017) and the growth of ATL batteries; became Chairman when Noboru Saito took over in 2022.
Source - Noboru Saito2022–present
Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Former head of the Sensor Systems business; became CEO on April 1, 2022, and has led TDK to record results in FY2026 on battery, HDD head and AI data center demand.
Source
Timeline: Murata and TDK side by side
1935TDK
Founding and First Ferrite Core
Kenzo Saito founds Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K. on December 7, 1935, to industrialize ferrite, invented in 1930 by Dr. Yogoro Kato and Dr. Takeshi Takei; ferrite cores are commercialized in 1937.
1944Murata
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.
1950Murata
Murata 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.
1966TDK
Expansion into Magnetic Recording Media
TDK expands into the magnetic tape market, developing advanced audio and data recording tapes that become the global standard for the consumer electronics and early computing industries.
1970Murata
MLCC Expansion
Murata expands in multilayer ceramic capacitors, a product family that becomes central to compact electronics.
1980TDK
Development of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs)
TDK builds its multilayer ceramic capacitor business, part of its shift from recording media toward electronic components.
1983TDK
Renamed TDK Corporation
Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo was renamed TDK Corporation in 1983.
2005TDK
Acquisition of Amperex Technology Limited (ATL)
TDK acquires Hong Kong-based battery maker Amperex Technology Limited (ATL), which later becomes its largest business.
2007TDK
Recording Media Brand Sold to Imation
TDK sold its branded recording media business to Imation in 2007.
2008TDK
Acquired EPCOS
TDK acquired EPCOS. TDK made a public tender offer of EUR 17.85 per share in cash for EPCOS, the Munich-based maker of passive electronic components, valuing it at about $1.36 billion (EUR 1.2 billion), and combined the two companies' passive component busines…
2012Murata
RF Monolithics Acquired
Murata bought the US wireless-component maker RF Monolithics in 2012.
2014Murata
Peregrine Semiconductor Deal
Murata acquires Peregrine Semiconductor to deepen RF and high-frequency device capabilities.
2017Murata
Sony Battery Business Acquired
Murata completes the acquisition of Sony's battery assets, broadening its battery and power-supply portfolio.
2017Murata
Acquired 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.
2017TDK
Acquisition of InvenSense and Micronas
The company acquires specialized MEMS sensor and semiconductor sensor firms, expanding its portfolio into advanced motion, environmental, and magnetic sensing solutions for automotive and IoT applications.
2020Murata
Norio Nakajima Becomes President
Norio Nakajima is appointed President and Representative Director of Murata Manufacturing.
2022Murata
Resonant Acquired
Murata completed its purchase of the US filter designer Resonant in March 2022.
2022TDK
Noboru Saito Becomes CEO
Noboru Saito becomes President and CEO on April 1, 2022, succeeding Shigenao Ishiguro.
2026Murata
Fiscal 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.
2026TDK
Record FY2026 Results
TDK reports record FY March 2026 net sales of ~$16.8 billion (¥2,504.8 billion) and operating profit of ~$1.83 billion (¥272.4 billion).
Acquisitions
Murata
- Sony Battery Business2017$175M
- Vios Medical2017Undisclosed
- Peregrine Semiconductor2014$471M
TDK
- InvenSense2017$1.3B
- Micronas2016Undisclosed
- EPCOS2008Undisclosed
- Amperex Technology Limited (ATL)2005$100M
Questions about Murata vs TDK
Who is the CEO of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and TDK Corporation?
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is led by Norio Nakajima and TDK Corporation is led by Noboru Saito. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. founded vs TDK Corporation?
TDK Corporation was founded in 1935 — 9 years before Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1944. TDK Corporation's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd..
How many employees does Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. have compared to TDK Corporation?
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. employs approximately 74,302 people, while TDK Corporation employs approximately 106,545. TDK Corporation has the larger workforce at 106,545 employees, compared to Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.'s 74,302. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and TDK Corporation headquartered?
Both Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and TDK Corporation are headquartered in Japan. Their local rules and tax obligations may still differ.
Who founded Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and TDK Corporation?
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was founded by Akira Murata. TDK Corporation was founded by Kenzo Saito, Dr. Yogoro Kato.
Which company has a longer operating history — Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. or TDK Corporation?
TDK Corporation has been operating for approximately 91 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. has been in operation for around 82 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Murata vs TDK overview