National (brand)

Japanese appliances brand

For other uses, see National (disambiguation).

National

Native name

| ナショナル
Industry|

* Electronics
* Home appliances

Founded| Osaka, Japan (1925 (1925))
Founder| Kōnosuke Matsushita
Defunct|

* 1980 (Europe)
* 1988 (Australia)
* 2004 (Asia)
* October 1, 2008 (Japan)

Successor| Panasonic
Headquarters|

Kadoma, Osaka

Japan

Area served

| Worldwide
Products| home, personal and industrial appliances, bicycles
Parent| Panasonic Corporation
Website| [1]

National (ナショナル, Nashonaru) was a brand used by Panasonic Corporation (formerly Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.) to sell home appliances, personal appliances, and industrial appliances. Neither National Semiconductor nor National Car Rental are related to Panasonic or the "National" brand.

## History

[edit]

National NE-6100 microwave oven The National "N-Mark" discontinued in Japan in 1987; outside Japan, "ナショナル" is replaced with "National" typeset in Helvetica

Before present-day Panasonic produced appliances under the name, the National brand was first used by Konosuke Matsushita's electric firm to sell his battery-powered bicycle lamps, hoping that they would be a product used by all of Japan, hence the name "National". It was arguably the first well-known brand of Japanese electronics.

National was formerly the premier brand on most Matsushita products, including audio and video and was combined in 1988 as National Panasonic after the worldwide success of the Panasonic name.

After 1980 in Europe, and 1988 in Australia and New Zealand, Matsushita ceased the usage of the "National" brand, and sold audiovisual products exclusively under the Panasonic and Technics brands. Matsushita never officially used the National name in the United States, due to the trademark being already in used by National Electronics. The brand made a brief appearance in 2003 on rice cookers, meat grinders and a handful of small kitchen appliances. In addition, National rice cookers were imported for sale in many Asian-American markets.

National was well known throughout Asia as a reputable manufacturer of domestic appliances such as rice cookers. In 2004, the "National" brand was gradually phased out in Asia, the penultimate market it was used in, with most products being rebranded under the Panasonic brand after the company decided to unify all their businesses under the Panasonic brand for greater recognition.

Due to its historical significance and recognition in Matsushita's native Japan, non-audiovisual Matsushita products (mostly home appliances or white goods) were branded "National" until October 1, 2008. As of October 1, 2008, Matsushita changed its company name to Panasonic Corporation. Non-audiovisual products that were branded "National" in Japan are currently marketed under the "Panasonic" brand.

## Bicycle Manufacturing

[edit]

Main article: Panasonic Cycle Technology

National bicycles were imported into the United States under the Panasonic label. The brand was known for producing high quality cycles at a relatively low price, as the result of a very high degree of factory automation and a resultingly low labor force with attendant savings in salaries and benefits. One of their models featured the unusual Shimano front freewheel system.

## Advertising campaigns

[edit]

National-Panasonic logo

* In 1960, National launched a tokusatsu series, co-produced by Toei, called National Kid, in a clear merchandising effort. The series wasn't popular in its home market, but attained cult status in Brazil.[1]
* In 1976, the Swedish band ABBA shot some ads promoting National. They were broadcast in Western Europe (Belgium, France, Netherlands, Switzerland, and West Germany), Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Philippines and Thailand.
* In 1978, J-pop duo Pink Lady appeared in several commercials promoting National's air conditioner and Pepper portable transistor radio.
* In the 1980s a promotion was made in Japan for National TV, using the cat "Chatran" also known as "Milo" from Fuji TV's 1986 theatrical feature film The Adventures of Milo and Otis (Koneko Monogatari). The commercial features some segments of the movie, then shows "Chatran"/"Milo" with a human companion.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Kid (Nashônaru Kiddo – 1960)". InfanTV.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to National (brand).

* (in Japanese) Panasonic products website
* (in English) Brand History, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
* (in English) The National brand: 1927
* (in English) ABBA TV commercials promoting National Brand (From YouTube)
* (in English) Background information on the making of the commercials, plus lyrics and voiceovers used
* (in Japanese) National Brand TV commercial cross promoting "The Adventures Of Milo & Otis"/The Adventures Of Chatran" from 1986 (From YouTube)
* (in Japanese) Ohmura Electric Industry plc.[permanent dead link]

* v
* t
* e

Panasonic

Subsidiaries|

| Current|

* Panasonic Avionics Corporation
* Panasonic Cycle Technology
* Panasonic Electric Works (acquired in 2012)
* Sanyo (acquired in 2009)
* Anchor Electricals (acquired in 2007)
* Blue Yonder (acquired in 2021)

|

Former|

* JVC (spun off and merged with Kenwood)
* MCA Inc. (sold to Seagram's)
* Universal Lighting Technologies (sold to Atar capital in 2021)

Brands|

* Eneloop
* Eluga
* KDK
* Lumix
* National (phased out)
* Panasonic
* Quasar
* Sanyo
* NXT
* Kaizen
* Technics
* Varicam

Products|

| Consoles|

* 3DO
* Panasonic M2
* Panasonic Q
* Jungle

|

Turntables|

* Technics SL-1200
* Technics SL-10
* Technics SL-J2

Other|

* Bicycles
* Camcorders
* CD interface
* Hospi
* Lenses
* Lumix cameras
* MN103
* Panapet
* Panasonic JR series
* Panasonic Toot-a-Loop Radio
* Toughpad
* Toughbook
* Panasonic TR-005
* Venus Engine

Formats and standards|

* D5 HD
* M-3DI Standard
* Micro Four Thirds system
* MicroP2
* MII
* P2
* VHS
* Viera Cast
* VX

People|

* Kōnosuke Matsushita
* Masaharu Matsushita
* Masayuki Matsushita
* Hiro Matsushita
* Hirofumi Hirano
* Toshio Iue
* Kazuhiro Tsuga

Other|

* Gamba Osaka
* Osaka Bluteon
* Panasonic Wild Knights
* Panasonic cycling team
* Panasonic Toyota Racing
* Panasonic Gobel Awards
* Panasonic Impulse

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

Electronics industry in Japan

Companies|

| Current|

* Aiwa
* Alaxala Networks
* Alinco
* Alps
* Alpine
* Anritsu
* AOR
* Audio-Technica
* Bandai Namco
* Brother
* Canon
* Casio
* CatEye
* Citizen Watch
* Cosina
* D+M Group
* Denon
* Marantz
* Daikin
* Denso
* Denso Ten
* DNP
* Eiki
* Eizo
* Elecom
* ESP Guitars
* FANUC
* Fostex
* Fuji Electric
* Fujifilm
* Business Innovation
* Fujitsu
* Funai
* Furuno
* Futaba
* Hamamatsu Photonics
* Hirose Electric
* Hitachi
* Clarion
* Maxell
* Hoya
* Ibanez
* Ibiden
* Icom
* Ikegami Tsushinki
* Iwatsu
* Japan Display
* JEOL
* JRC
* JR Propo
* JVCKenwood
* JVC
* Kenwood
* Kawai
* Keyence
* Kioxia
* Kiramek
* Konami
* Konica Minolta
* KO PROPO
* Korg
* Kyocera
* Luxman
* Mabuchi Motor
* Mamiya
* Maspro
* Melco
* Micron Memory Japan
* MinebeaMitsumi
* Mitsumi
* Mitsubishi Electric
* Murata Manufacturing
* Mutoh
* Nakamichi
* NEC
* Mobile Communications
* Nichia
* Nichicon
* Nidec
* Nidec Copal Corporation
* Nihon Dempa Kogyo
* Nikon
* Nintendo
* Nippon Chemi-Con
* Nitto Denko
* NKK Switches
* Oki
* Olympus
* Omron
* Onkyo
* Integra Home Theater
* Orion Electric
* Panasonic
* Sanyo
* Technics
* Pioneer
* Pixela
* Plextor
* Renesas Electronics
* Ricoh
* Pentax
* Riso Kagaku
* Rohm
* Roland
* Rubycon
* Sansui
* Sanwa Electronic
* SCREEN
* Sega Sammy
* Sega
* Seiko Group
* Pulsar
* Seiko
* Epson
* Orient Watch
* Seiko Instruments
* Sharp
* Shimadzu
* Shindengen Electric Manufacturing
* Sigma
* Sony
* SNK
* Square Enix
* Taito
* Stanley Electric
* Star Micronics
* Stax
* Sumitomo Electric
* Taiyo Yuden
* Tamron
* TDK
* TEAC
* Tiger
* TOA Corporation
* Tokyo Electron
* Topcon
* Toshiba
* Uniden
* Ushio
* Wacom
* Yaesu
* Yamaha
* Yaskawa
* Yokogawa
* Zojirushi
* Zoom
* Zuken

|

Defunct|

* Aiwa
* Akai
* Bronica
* Chinon
* Contax
* Konica
* Minolta
* National
* Norita
* Okaya Optical

Other|

* Electronic Industries Association
* INCJ
* Japan Electronic Industries Development Association
* Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association
* Yagi–Uda antenna

* Category

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