Official company name
Toshiba Corporation

Common company name
Toshiba

Company logo


Name when written in Japanese (normal)


Name when written in Japanese (traditional)


Name breakdown
 - "Tou" - Means "east."
 - "Shiba" - Means "lawn."

Actual name origins
"Toshiba" is a result a merger between "Tokyo Electric" and "Shibaura Manufacturing." The two companies combined to create "Tokyo Shibaura Denki," which changed its name to simply "Toshiba" in 1984.
Taking things a step back, Shibaura Manufacturing was created in 1875 by a man named Hisae Nakata, under the name "Nakata Manufacturing." Today, Toshiba accredits Mr. Nakata with the foundation of the company.
Coincidentally, "Shibaura" was the name of the company's location (at the time) in Tokyo.

Corporate History
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/histo_j.htm

And that's it for this edition of "Ask TechJapan." Hope you enjoyed it!