Morisawa

Morisawa Inc. is a Japanese company headquartered in Naniwa-ku, Osaka, that develops and sells fonts for desktop publishing, typesetting software, and print-on-demand systems. It was founded as a manufacturer of manual phototypesetting machines and later developed computerized phototypesetting systems. The company developed the first Japanese-language PostScript fonts and has held the largest share of the Japanese font software market. Its origins trace to Nobuo Morisawa's 1924 invention of a Japanese-language phototypesetting machine, and the corporate entity was established in 1948.

Morisawa's origins trace to July 24, 1924, when Nobuo Morisawa invented a Japanese-language phototypesetting machine ('邦文写真植字機'), for which he applied for a patent. In 1925 he worked with Shigekichi Ishii and others on a prototype, and the patent was granted in June under the name 'photographic device'. In 1926 Morisawa and Ishii contracted as joint entrepreneurs and established a single-story factory in Horifune-cho, Kita-ku, Tokyo, under the sign 'Phototypesetting Machine Research Institute'. In 1929 the first practical phototypesetting machine was completed, with a type plate holding 5,460 Mincho characters. In 1933 Morisawa dissolved the joint business with Ishii and returned to Osaka, opening a phototypesetting plate-making business in Naniwa-ku, later establishing a screw factory in Nishinari-ku Tsumori. In 1946, after the war, he resumed the joint business with Ishii, manufacturing the 'A-type' machine in Osaka; about 100 units were sold by 1949. In 1948 he established 'Phototypesetting Machine Manufacturing Co., Ltd.' and announced the 'MC-type' machine, which fundamentally reformed the typesetting mechanism. In 1954 the company was renamed 'Morisawa Phototypesetting Machine Manufacturing Co., Ltd.' and a Tokyo sales office was opened. According to Wikipedia, Morisawa Inc. is a Japanese company headquartered in Naniwa-ku, Osaka, that develops and sells fonts for desktop publishing, typesetting software, and print-on-demand systems; it developed the first Japanese-language PostScript fonts and has held the largest share of the Japanese font software market. It was founded as a manufacturer of manual phototypesetting machines and later developed computerized phototypesetting systems. The Chinese Wikipedia states the company was established in 1948 and is headquartered in Naniwa-ku, Osaka, mainly producing phototypesetting machines and fonts and developing and selling digital fonts.

Contributing to society through characters/typography.

• Morisawa Fonts

  Morisawa's new font platform.

• MORISAWA BIZ+

  UD fonts optimal for business scenes.

• MORISAWA PASSPORT

  Mentioned in a news item about access restoration.

1. 1株式会社モリサワmorisawa.co.jp
2. 2歴史・沿革 | 企業情報 | 株式会社モリサワmorisawa.co.jp
3. 3企業情報 | 株式会社モリサワmorisawa.co.jp
4. 4製品／ソリューション | 株式会社モリサワmorisawa.co.jp
5. 5Morisawawikidata.org
6. 6Morisawa (company)en.wikipedia.org
7. 7森澤zh.wikipedia.org