Sharp EL-338GN calculator

Sharp is a historic Japanese electronics brand, famously known for its pioneering role in calculators, LCD technology, and home appliances. Originally founded in 1912 by Tokuji Hayakawa, the company derived its name from the Ever-Sharp mechanical pencil, one of its first successful inventions. The Elsi Mate series, featured here, represents their long-standing line of reliable electronic desktop calculators.

While Sharp was a quintessentially Japanese corporate icon for decades, its ownership changed significantly in 2016. Following financial challenges, the Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.) acquired a majority stake in the company. Today, Sharp operates as a subsidiary of Foxconn. While high-level engineering and design often remain in Japan, manufacturing for consumer electronics like calculators is distributed across various global locations, primarily in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.