The beginnings of the global corporation date back to the previous century, when industrialization began in Japan. It was in the year 1939 that a producer of electrical light fixtures (Tokyo Electric Company) and another producer from the high voltage equipment field (Shibauro Electric Company) came together and founded the TOKYO SHIBAURO ELECTRIC COMPANY. Even then, people on the inside liked to call the company TOSHIBA. However, it wasn't until 1978 that the name was officially introduced.

The strong economic growth after the Second World War, among other things, prompted the Japanese to follow the American model and also build air conditioners. As early as the 1950s, the first Japanese products were introduced onto the market and received praise for their innovation.

In 1961, TOSHIBA presented the first split air conditioning unit to the world – a system where the indoor and outdoor units are only connected by copper piping. This is how Toshiba took on the role of the innovator and it is still able to lead the market to this day, benefitting people and the environment with its far-reaching inventions.