Rinnai Corp
A maker of gas appliances, best known for its tankless water heaters used in homes and businesses around the world. The company traces its start to 1918, when founder Hidejiro Naito was inspired by the blue flames of an imported oil-burning stove used to cook imagawayaki, a traditional Japanese bun, and built his own version. Founded in Nagoya in 1920 with partner Kanekichi Hayashi, the name "Rinnai" stitches together characters from the two founders' surnames — "Rin" from Hayashi and "nai" from Naito.