What is the meaning of Sankyo in Japanese companies names


What is the meaning of 三共 Sankyō in some Japanese companies names?

  * Sankyo Denki (now named Sanden)
  * Daiichi Sankyo
  * Sankyo flutes ...




Many companies have 三共 in their names. Of course the most famous one is
[第一三共株式会社 (Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd)](http://www.daiichisankyo.com/), and this
can be the only company name with 三共 which is recognized nationwide. But other
large and small companies called 三共 exist; for example, [this
株式会社三共](http://www.sankyo-fever.co.jp/corporate/company/history.html) is
apparently irrelevant to 第一三共, and there seems to be dozens of small 三共商店 in
Japan.

Generally speaking, proper nouns are proper nouns, and have no known
"meanings". However 三共 happens to have a known meaning. The kanji 三 means
_three_ , and 共 means _cooperation_. Put together, 三共 has the meaning similar
to _trinity_ or _triad_. The name of 三共 was used when a company was started by
three capital providers. In Daiichi Sankyo's case, the three founders were
[Matasaku
Shiobara](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A1%A9%E5%8E%9F%E5%8F%88%E7%AD%96),
Shōtaro Nishimura, and Genjirō Fukui. Apparently this was a common naming
convention around 100 years ago. It may be somewhat similar to English "...
and Bros." or "... and Associates".




Many companies have 三共 in their names. Of course the most famous one is
[第一三共株式会社 (Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd)](http://www.daiichisankyo.com/), and this
can be the only company name with 三共 which is recognized nationwide. But other
large and small companies called 三共 exist; for example, [this
株式会社三共](http://www.sankyo-fever.co.jp/corporate/company/history.html) is
apparently irrelevant to 第一三共, and there seems to be dozens of small 三共商店 in
Japan.

Generally speaking, proper nouns are proper nouns, and have no known
"meanings". However 三共 happens to have a known meaning. The kanji 三 means
_three_ , and 共 means _cooperation_. Put together, 三共 has the meaning similar
to _trinity_ or _triad_. The name of 三共 was used when a company was started by
three capital providers. In Daiichi Sankyo's case, the three founders were
[Matasaku
Shiobara](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A1%A9%E5%8E%9F%E5%8F%88%E7%AD%96),
Shōtaro Nishimura, and Genjirō Fukui. Apparently this was a common naming
convention around 100 years ago. It may be somewhat similar to English "...
and Bros." or "... and Associates".

