visiting DNP headquarters in gotanda (tokyo) this past week i was reminded of the japanese corporate custom of maintaining a prominent exhibit about the company’s history, its roots, regardless of how far they’ve come. at 130 years old the company is commonplace in japan, where there are over 50,000 corporations older than 100 years. beyond mere pride, this kind of museum suggests a more farsighted focus than the dominant american management style, which seeks to maximize short-term profits without regard to the longevity of the enterprise. on top of that, the design of the dnp company museum is immaculate, complete with glowing cabinets and hidden drawers containing ancient font catalogs and movable type pieces: