J. Osawa & Co., Ltd

HISTORY

Zensuke OsawaSigns at the time of establishmentWall ClockFounded in KyotoSigns of J.Osawa Co.Seoul BranchGreenland bicycleHigh class French made clockBoat made by Glastron Co.Bell Howell 8mm cameraTokyo headquarters from 1970 to 2003Pierre DerocheBionic golf groveViva HeartLouis ErardBig MaxLinks & KingsRose & FireDietrichLars Lasen

1890	Zensuke Osawa established a factory in Kyoto to produce a wall clock called a "bon-bon" clock.
1893	Began wholesaling of imported pocket watches.
1894	Began export toys, bone handicrafts and leather items to China and Southeast Asia,and Japanese fans to Italy and Spain.
1895	Began operations as a local distributor for imported watches,bicycles and conveyor belts for use in factories.
1899	Established Sydney branch. (Beginning of Japan's Australia trade.) Cotton fabricks became popular as "Osawa cloth"
1902	Supplied Zic conveyor belts to Osaka Armory. Started selling Rochester oil lamps,Jackson hardware joints,Singer sewing machines and Columbia gramophones from the U.S.A.
1904	The "Westfields",bicycle by Osawa,adopted by Kyoto Postal Office to deliver telegrams.
1915	Imported products in demand thanks to the war economy. Started selling gas pipes made by US Steel and Bethlehem,wooden screws from American Screw and rubber products from Dunlop,U.K.
1916	Started trading with Russia.
1919	J.Osawa & Co.,Ltd., incorporated with initial capital of \3 million.
1921	Obtained top share of imported-watch market.
1926	Simons parts Div. (Later Automotive Products Dept.) started importing Ford auto part. Began selling New Imperial motorcycles.
1927	Became the authorized dealer for General Motors in the Kyoto and Shiga area.
1928	Won 1st place in a nationwide contest for marketing Chevrolet automobiles. Became sole distributor of Bell & Howell of U.S.A.
1931	Deliverd Bell & Howell 16mm projectors to 57 elementary schools in Kyoto.
1933	Completed construction of JO Studio in Uzumasa, Kyoto, Began filming Daimai News.
1936	Produced "New Soil”、Japan's　first movie jointly produced,with collaboration of JO Studio, Towa and a German movie company.
1937	JO Studio,Photo Chemical Reserch Institute, PCL Movie Production Co. and Toho Movie Distribution Co. merged and established Toho Movie Company.
1939	Began selling the Kyoto JO Electric Car.
1943	Merged Toho Movie Co. and Tokyo Takarazuka Theater to establish Toho Co.,Ltd. (President:Yoshio Osawa).
1946	Established a joint stock company made up of Nittoh Watch Co. and Citizen Watch Co. to produce wrist watches.
1949	Began marketing Primoflex cameras manufactured by subcontractor, Tokyo Optical Instrument Co.,Ltd. Signed a distribution contract with Mamia Camera Co.,Ltd. Began exporting Japanese cinefilms and importing TV and radio broadcasting equipment.
1951	Received an order from Japan's first commercial broadcasting company, Tokyo Radio Broadcasting Co. (currently Tokyo Broadcasting Systems, Inc.) for a 50Kw transmitter.
1953	Estalished Tokyo Agfa Laboratories Inc., Japan's first color film developing and printing labs.
1954	Began selling of Agfa-color Negative Films T.K.
1955	Established Osawa & Co., (U.S.A) Inc.
1958	Started selling Dunlop golf balls. Established Japan Cine Equipment Co.,Ltd. (later Japan Bell & Howell Co.,Ltd.).
1961	Began selling Dymo tape-writers.
1962	Became sole distributor of Decker power tools of the United States.
1963	Appointed sole distributor of Mamia Camera Co.,Ltd.
1964	Listed on the second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange. Became sole distibutor in Japan for Omega watches. Started selling jewelry.
1965	Began marketing Blue River diamonds. Established Nihon Wiper Blade Co.,Ltd., and began manufacturing wiper blades.
1969	Appointed sole distributor of AMF Ben Hogan golf clubs. Began selling AMF Voit Arnold Palmer golf clubs. Appointed sole distibutor of Foot-Joy golf shoes.
1970	Listed on the section of Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchanges.
1971	Appointed sole distributor in Japan of Lyle & Scott sports wear. Began handling Interluebke system furniture of Germany. Began selling 16mm cine cameras from Arnold Richter KG in Germany, and Image Converter High Speed cameras from Hadland Photonics Ltd. in the U.K.
1974	Opened Mikado Jewelry & Watch Ltd. In Hong as a retail business.
1975	Signed a contract with AMF Inc. to markket Head skis,tennis rackets and tennis shoes. Began sales of Holmgaard glassware and Poggenpohl system kitchens.
1984	Filed a petition for application of the Corporate Rehabilitation Law with Tokyo District Court.
1985	appointed sole distributor of WD-40 lubricant rust preventative in Japan. Began selling Sailboard from Germany. Began selling JVC car audio equipment in a tie-up with Victor Co., Ltd. Obtained from Seibu Department Stores the right to sell Kosta Boda glassware. Began selling Godiva chocolates from Belgium.
1986	Acquired licensing and ditribution rights for Trussardi in Japan. Acquired sub-distribution rights in Japan of Lacoste products. Began selling Takeo Kikuchi watches.
1987	Began marketing Trussardi jeans and Alfa Romeo automobiles.
1988	Made a business tie-up with Motorola U.S.A. to market mobile radio systems. Established Chrysler Japan Sales Limited and Nina Ricci Prestige KK. Began selling Kenzo watches.
1990	Published book commemorating Osawa's centenary.
1991	Began distributing Zero-Halliburton bags and Blue Coral car chemicals.
1992	Began marketing Ashworth golf wear, Krizia watches and Trussardi Action casual wear.
1993	Began selling Katharine Hamnett, Jean Louis Scherrer, Rykiel Homme and Guess brand watches.
1994	Began marketing Guess casual wear and Aya New York fashion jewelry. Opened Coach leather bag shop in Hibiya. Started business with Inchcape Group.
1995	Began marketing adabat caddie bags and Multimedia Projectors. Celebrated 30th anniversary of Blue River jewelry. Began selling Vivienne Westwood watches. Opened a series of retail stores-two shops for Lacoste wear, four shops for Godiva chocolates, two shops for Coach bags and one shops for Guess apparel.
1996	Began marketing Saucony (US) running shoes. Entered into a business partnership with Belanger, a leading US car wash system producer. Established Gourmand Japan, Inc. jointly with Campbell Soup Co. for the sale of Godiva chocolates. Opened Gallery Orrefors & Kosta Boda in Marunouchi, Tokyo. Began marketing Swiss-made Zenith mechanical wristwatches.
1997	Entered into business partnership with Wako Industrial Co.,Ltd, to strengthen the automotive filter element business.
1998	Acquired distribution rights for sports gear of Spalding,(Topflite, Etonic, basketball, etc.) Began marketing McHenry Metals (US) golf clubs.
1999	Began marketing Fila watches and Patrick Cox watches. Began selling Cutter & Buck golfwear.
2000	Began marketing Opex watches, Nomos watches, Theresienthal glassware, Bally golf shoes,Burton caddiebags and Kevin Burns putters.
2003	Transferred business to Unimat Group on March 1st., and started business as J. Osawa Group Co., Ltd.
2004	Began marketing Pathfinder(US) business bags and traveling bags.
2005	Began marketing Andiamo(US) historic luggage brands in America.
2005	Began marketing Swiss-made Pierre Deroche wristwatches.
2006	Began marketing Bric's(Italy) casual bags.
2007	Began marketing Bionic(US) golf groves.
2008	Began marketing Duca Del Cosma(Italy) golfgoods.
2009	Began marketing Green ON(US) GPS navigation for golf.
2010	Began marketing "Mirror by Kawi Jamele" jewelry brands designed by miria kato.
2011	Began marketing Antica(Italy) casual accessories.
2011	Began marketing Viva Heart golfwear.
2012	Began marketing Kate Spade NewYork(US) wristwatches.
2012	Began marketing Swsiss-made Louis Erard wristwatches.
2013	Merged with Chelsea Co. , a member of the same Unimat Group, in April
2013	Began marketing Big Max(AUT) golf bags.
2014	Merged with a company of the same Unimat Group, in April.
2014	Demerged from the Merged Company, Ltd. in July.
2014	Began marketing Links & Kings(US) golfbags.
2015	Began marketing Rose & Fire(US) golfbags.
2015	Began marketing Swsiss-made Dietrich wristwatches.
2015	Independed from the Unimat group on November 19.
2016	Began marketing Lars Lasen(DNK) wristwatches. Began marketing Thorlos(US) sports socks.
2018	Began marketing ECCO(DK) golfshoes. Began marketing ROSASEN(US) golfbags.