Celebrating Our 150th Anniversary with Our Teams from around the World (4)
On March 31, 2025, Shimadzu Corporation celebrated its 150th anniversary. Our founding spirit has traveled from Kyoto, and it continues to inspire our colleagues around the world. To honor this milestone together, commemorative events have been held globally. This article shares stories from Turkey and China.
Shimadzu Corporation 150th anniversary commemorative logo and key visual
Turkey: An Air Trip that Carries on the Intention of Shimadzu’s Founder
At the Turkey branch office of Shimadzu Middle East & Africa FZE (SMEA), which administers Middle Eastern and African regions, a balloon flight event was held in Cappadocia, in Central Turkey. This was planned to illustrate our respect for the successful flight of a manned balloon, the first civilian flight in Japan, in 1877, by Genzo Shimadzu, the founder of Shimadzu Corporation.
Gathering in Cappadocia, wearing sweatshirts decorated with the key commemorative visual of the 150th anniversary
Preparing for the flight. Buoyancy is obtained by using a burner to heat the air, which fills up the balloon
To launch the balloon around sunrise, the 22 participants left the hotel at 3 a.m., and gathered at the site. Banners with the Shimadzu brand symbol and the 150th anniversary commemorative logo decorated the basket of the balloon.
On that day, the weather was ideal for a balloon flight. As the sun rose, the balloon slowly ascended. The SMEA employees reflected on the intention of the founder of Shimadzu to take on challenges, while sharing with their peers the beautiful landscape of Cappadocia, which was spread out under their gaze.
The landscape was formed over countless years by volcanic activity and erosion. Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Comment from the SMEA Event Organizer
As we celebrated Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary, flying a balloon over the unique landscape of Cappadocia felt especially meaningful. It was a powerful tribute to our founder, Genzo Shimadzu’s very first experiment with a hydrogen balloon—a moment that marked the beginning of our journey into science and discovery.Seeing our team gather under the same sky, inspired by the same spirit that launched the company 150 years ago, was truly emotional.
My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who contributed to this unforgettable experience. From planning to execution, every detail reflected our pride in Shimadzu’s legacy and our excitement for the future.
China: Taking on New Challenges Together with our Customers
Shimadzu (China) Co., Ltd. (SSL), which administers the Chinese area, exhibited at the 21st Beijing Conference and Exhibition on Instrumental Analysis (BCEIA 2025) in Beijing on September 10 to 12. They introduced the latest solutions at their 150th anniversary commemorative design booth. BCEIA is an international academic conference and exhibition on analytical instruments, held every two years. It is a large-scale event, attracting about 30,000 visitors over three days.
At the 150th anniversary commemorative corner, concept models of the Nexera series liquid chromatograph and the Brevis GC-2050 gas chromatograph, enhanced with traditional Kyoto craft arts, were exhibited. The exteriors of the two models feature five colors inspired by the Five Elements, a natural philosophy that originated in ancient China.
The five color variations were inspired by the Five Elements of fire, water, wood, metal, and earth, which are believed to underlie all things. At BCEIA, the “Fire” model was exhibited.
The Shimadzu 150th anniversary commemorative ceremony was held in the same month. Approximately 250 people attended, including customers and partners from various fields in China and personnel from the Shimadzu Group. In his opening address, SSL President Koki Aoyama emphasized that Shimadzu instruments have contributed to the well-being of people and the earth, while supporting industry. He also stated that Shimadzu will continue to take on new challenges by leveraging its accumulated experience in science and technology, and the trust built to date.
The theme of the ceremony was “Chasing Dreams, to the Future,” and the commemorative cake was decorated with the message “Overcome New Challenges Together with Customers.”
Events commemorating Shimadzu’s 150th anniversary have been held around the world. We look forward to sharing more stories from different countries and regions in the coming months. Stay tuned for more updates.
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