Editing GS Yuasa (section)

== History ==

=== Yuasa ===

In 1909, Shichizaemon Yuasa established Yuasa Iron Works to modernize the family business, founded in 1666 as a charcoal trading business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yuasa.co.jp/english/ir/finvestors/history.html|title=History - Investor Relations - YUASA TRADING CO., LTD.|website=www.yuasa.co.jp}}</ref> Yuasa Iron Works began producing storage batteries in 1915, and three years later Yuasa Storage Battery Co., Ltd was established.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.gs-yuasa.com/en/company/history.php|title=History - About - GS Yuasa|first=GS|last=Yuasa|website=www.gs-yuasa.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yuasa.co.uk/company/history/yuasa-battery-corporation/|title=Yuasa Battery Corporation - Yuasa}}</ref> Soon after, Yuasa Storage Battery Co., Ltd began making Japan's first automotive batteries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.yuasa.com.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=11295 |title=Yuasa &#124; History |access-date=2016-02-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228232332/http://yuasa.com.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=11295 |archive-date=2016-02-28 }}</ref> In 1925, Yuasa began making dry cells, and in 1941 they began making alkaline cells. The dry battery business was later spun off into Yuasa Dry Battery Co., Ltd, which later merged back into Yuasa Storage Battery Co., Ltd to form Yuasa Battery Co, Ltd, later renamed to Yuasa Corporation.<ref name="auto"/>

=== GS ===
[[File:Shimazu Genzō I.jpg|left|thumb|235x235px|Genzo Shimadzu Sr.]]
[[File:Shimazu Genzō II 3.jpg|left|thumb|223x223px|Genzo Shimadzu Jr.]]
In 1904, {{Nihongo|{{ill|Genzo Shimadzu Jr.|ja|島津源蔵 (2代目)}}|島津 源蔵|Shimazu Genzō|b. 1869 d. 1951}} developed a high-capacity lead-acid battery to supply backup power to his factory during outages of Kyoto's then unreliable power grid. The Japanese navy purchased 400 units of this battery. Shimadzu established Japan Storage Battery Co., Ltd in 1917<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ieeemilestones.ethw.org/Milestones:Birth_and_Growth_of_Primary_and_Secondary_Battery_Industries_in_Japan|title=Milestones:Birth and Growth of Primary and Secondary Battery Industries in Japan - IEEE Milestones Wiki|website=ieeemilestones.ethw.org|date=27 May 2015 }}</ref> and began producing automotive batteries in 1919. In 1938 they began producing alkaline batteries and in 1940 they began making high-pressure mercury lamps.<ref name="auto" />

'''GS''' was established in 1917<ref>[http://www.gs-yuasa.com/us/corporate/pdf/a4_history(e).pdf Japan Storage Battery History] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212044617/http://www.gs-yuasa.com/us/corporate/pdf/a4_history(e).pdf |date=2013-12-12 }}, GS Yuasa Corporation history viewed 2013-8-5</ref> and is an abbreviation comprising the initials of Genzou Shimadzu Jr. who founded Japan Storage Battery in 1917. He was also the second president of [[Shimadzu Corporation]] founded in 1875 by his father, {{Nihongo|{{ill|Genzo Shimadzu Sr.|ja|島津源蔵 (初代)}}|島津 源蔵|Shimazu Genzō|b. 1839 d. 1894}}.

=== GS Yuasa ===

In 2004, Yuasa Corporation merged with Japan Storage Battery to form GS Yuasa Corporation.

As of 2014, GS Yuasa had 9 plants for manufacturing industrial lead-acid and NiCd batteries and 5 plants for Li-Ion cells. GS Yuasa also sells other products including power supplies, lamps and motorcycle batteries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sajapan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/GS-YUASA@SA-EMBASSY-ECONOMIC-OFFICE-WORKSHOP-on-25-November-2014.pdf |title=Office workshop |date=25 November 2014 |website=sajapan.org |access-date=1 February 2016 |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527180139/http://sajapan.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/GS-YUASA@SA-EMBASSY-ECONOMIC-OFFICE-WORKSHOP-on-25-November-2014.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Now the top power sports battery producer, Yuasa provides nearly 90% of the batteries used in power sport vehicles in [[North America]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=http://yuasabatteries.com/history.php|title=About Yuasa - Yuasa Batteris Inc - Vehicle & Industrial Batteries|newspaper=Yuasa Battery, Inc }}</ref>