KOKUYO's Chronicle ~ Over a Century of Creativity

4. The establishment years (1954-1968)

Around 1954, when KOKUYO was celebrating 50 years since its establishment, the company surpassed its best pre-war performance and became a leading company in the paper manufacturing industry. At that time, while reconstructing and establishing its production systems, KOKUYO also made efforts to maintain and enhance its distribution and sales network. Two years after the war ended, the TÅkyÅ branch was set up, with other branches being subsequently set up all over Japan, in succession. In this way the sales network was expanded. When establishing these sales offices, KOKUYO not only set up branches which it wholly owned, but it also started joint investments with powerful local wholesalers. Another unique aspect was the emergence of shops exclusively specializing in KOKUYO products. They came to be much talked about in the industry at the time, and as their success became clear, similar movements appeared across the country, so that by 1957, there were twenty KOKUYO specialized shops all over Japan. Another major milestone passed around this time was the entry of KOKUYO, which had hitherto been developing as a paper product manufacturer, into the steel product industry. The first steel products—filing cabinets—were launched in 1960, followed by steel desks in 1965, and other products such as home cabinets and office swivel chairs the following year.

1956
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Flat Files are released.
1957
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The "Nationwide KOKUYO Association" of specialized shops system is established.

KOKUYO's Historical Accounts

1959
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The survey field notebook is launched.

KOKUYO's Historical Accounts

1960
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ZentarÅ Kuroda becomes Chairman of the Board, and ShÅnosuke Kuroda is appointed President.
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Entry established into the steel product industry. Filing cabinets are released.

KOKUYO's Historical Accounts

1961
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Filler notebooks are released.
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Bureaumatic equipment is introduced.
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The Yao Plant is set up.

KOKUYO's Historical Accounts

1962
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Japan Office Supplies Co., Ltd. is set up in Tottori City.
1963
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Entry established into the album market.
1965
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Steel desks are released.

KOKUYO's Historical Accounts

1966
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Home cabinets, office swivel chairs and folding chairs are launched.

KOKUYO's Historical Accounts

  • The first logoFiling cabinet
  • Western-style bookEntry established into the album market
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