Sojitz Corporation (双日株式会社, Sōjitsu Kabushiki-gaisha^?) (TYO: 2768) is a trading corporation based in Tokyo, Japan. It operates in many industries, including construction, forestry, plastics, chemicals, mining, petroleum, textiles, and international trade. Sojitz also participates in joint ventures with foreign companies in Japan.

[edit] Etymology

"Sojitz" literally means "double 日" or "the twin 日". The company was formed by the merger of two companies, both with names containing the character "日" meaning "sun" or "day":

• Nissho Iwai Corporation (日商岩井株式会社, Nisshō Iwai Kabushiki-gaisha^?)
• Nichimen Corporation (ニチメン株式会社, Nichimen Kabushiki-gaisha^?), originally Japan Cotton Corporation (日本綿花株式会社, Nihon Menka Kabushiki-gaisha^?). "Nichimen" is a contraction of "Nihon Menka", literally "Japan Cotton", referring to its original business of cotton importing.

The character 日 may be pronounced either "nichi" or "jitsu", with assimilation to the following consonant in words like Nisshō (日商). It is also exceptionally pronounced "ni" in Nihon ("Japan").

"Sojitz" (Sōjitsu), the "twin 日", implies a merger of equals.

[edit] History

Sojitz was formed in 2004 by the merger of Nissho Iwai Corporation (日商岩井株式会社, Nisshō Iwai Kabushiki-gaisha^?) and Nichimen Corporation (ニチメン株式会社, Nichimen Kabushiki-gaisha^?).

[edit] External links

• Sojitz Corporation

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