Sharp Corporation (シャープ株式会社, Shāpu Kabushiki-gaisha?) (TYO: 6753, Osaka Sec. Ex.: 6753, Nagoya Stk. Ex.: 6753, Fukuoka Stk. Ex.: 6753, Sapporo Sec. Ex.: 6753, LuxSE: SRP) is a Japanese multinational corporation that designs and manufactures electronic products. Headquartered in Abeno-ku, Osaka, Japan, Sharp employs more than 54,144 people worldwide as of October 31, 2009. The company was founded in September 1912. It takes its name from one of its founder's first inventions, the Ever-Sharp mechanical pencil, which was invented by Tokuji Hayakawa (早川 徳次) in 1915. Since then it has developed into one of the leading electronics companies in the world. As a semiconductor maker, Sharp is among the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders and among the Top 100 R&D Spenders in a list publishe