is a Japanese construction company purportedly founded in AD 578, making it the world's oldest documented company. The company mainly worked on the design, construction, restoration, and repair of shrines, temples, castles, and cultural heritage buildings. While Kongà  Gumi historically specialized in traditional architecture, increased competition from major construction companies due to the growing use of concrete in shrines and temples resulted in the company becoming a subsidiary of the Takamatsu Construction Group in January 2006. However, its continuity as a separate legal entity remains unbroken and uninterrupted.
Headquartered in Osaka, Kongà  Gumi was a family-owned construction company for over 1,400 years. A 17th century scroll traces the 40 generations back to the company's start. It has continued operation through the founder's descendants. As with many distinguished Japanese families, sons-in-law often joined the clan and took the Kongà  family name. This allowed the company to continue with the same name when there were no sons in a generation. Thus, through the years, the line has continued through either a son or a daughter. Another factor for the company's longevity is the Buddhist temple construction business, which has been a reliable mainstay due to millions of Buddhist adherents. Over the centuries, Kongà  Gumi participated in the construction of many famous buildings, including the 16th century Osaka Castle.
Kongà  Gumi was one of the first construction companies in Japan to use concrete with wood to build temples after the Meiji Restoration. They also pioneered the use of computer-aided design (CAD) for temple design.
By the early 2000s the company had trouble servicing its debts, and in January 2006 its assets were purchased by the Takamatsu Construction Group. Before the acquisition, Kongà  Gumi had as few as 100 employees. In 2005 it had annual revenue of ÃÂ¥7.5 billion (US$70 million), and it still specialized in building Buddhist temples. The last president was Masakazu Kongà Â, the 40th Kongà  to lead the firm. , Kongà  Gumi continues to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Takamatsu Construction Group.
In 578, Kongà  Shikà Â, one of the three Miyadaiku (specialized carpenters who build shrines and temples) invited from Baekje by Prince Shà Âtoku to construct Shitennà Â-ji, founds the company. Until the Edo period, Kongà  Gumi remains the Miyadaiku for Shitennà Â-ji.
In 593, Shitennà Â-ji was completed. The construction method used to build it is still alive in the Kongà  Construction's "assembly method".
In 1576, Shitennà Â-ji was burned down by Oda Nobunaga. The company participated in the construction of Osaka Castle during the 16th century. In the winter of 1614 during the Siege of Osaka, Shitennà Â-ji burned down again. It has been rebuilt seven times due to war and natural disasters, and each time, the successive Kongà  Gumi worked to rebuild it.
In 1868, Shitennà Â-ji lost its temple estate, and Kongà  Gumi could no longer receive the stipend from Shitennà Â-ji.
In 1903, Kongà  Gumi built the Daimon Gate.
In 1934, the Shitennà Â-ji Gojà «-no-tà  (five-story pagoda) collapsed due to the 1934 Muroto typhoon. Kongà  Gumi was able to rebuild it under the leadership of Yoshie Kongà Â, the first woman to become the head carpenter in the company's history.
In 1955, Kongà  Gumi incorporated.
In November 2005, Shin-Kongo Construction, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takamatsu Construction, was established.
In January 2006, the company transferred its business to Shin-Kongo Construction and most of its employees moved to the new company. The old Kongà  Construction remained only in the real estate division and changed its name to KJ Construction Co., Ltd. The over-1,400-year-old Kongà  family's management structure essentially closed its doors.
In July 2006, KJ Construction filed for bankruptcy due to insufficient funds. The total debt was ÃÂ¥4 billion.
In July 2007, they acquired all the shares of Nakamura Shaji, a company undergoing civil rehabilitation.
In May 2008, they established Kongà  Construction Engineering as a subsidiary specialized in the construction and repair of yamakasa, danjiri, and mikoshi (floats and portable shrines used in festivals).