Will robots run the factories of the world? There may be clues in Japan.

Kyoto-based Nidec Corp. makes motors of all sizes that show up in just about everything: your car, your washing machine, even hard-disk drives from back in the day. The company was founded in 1973 by Shigenobu Nagamori, an acquisitive and ambitious billionaire who counts Masayoshi Son, SoftBank Group Corp.¡¯s chief, among his inner circle.

Nidec effectively created its now-crucial market, becoming a key supplier to computer hardware and consumer electronics makers. The firm has since acquired more than 40 companies.