History of company

1943

Kiichiro Tanaka founds Tanaka Kiichiro Shoten after serving as Managing Director of Suehiro Trading Co., Ltd.

1950

He establishes Kiichi Tools Co., Ltd. and is appointed as President and CEO.

1970

New headquarters building is completed.

1972

Sister company Esco Co., Ltd. is established.

1973

Kiichiro Tanaka becomes Chairman of the Board, while his son Kozo Tanaka becomes President and CEO.

1974

Kiichiro Tanaka becomes Director and Advisor.

2000

KW TOOLS, a joint venture with a local Dutch company, is established.

2002

Kodama Trading is incorporated into the group.

2003

Kiichi Tools Shanghai Co., Ltd., a local subsidiary in Shanghai, is established.

2005

A group meeting with employees from group companies nationwide is held in Osaka.

2008

Kozo Tanaka becomes Chairman of the Board, and Kenichi Tanaka becomes President and CEO.

2009

Absorbtion merger with Kodama Trading Co., Ltd., a group company.

2011

Kozo Tanaka becomes Director and Advisor. K PLUS J TOOLS CO., LTD., a joint venture with a local Thai company, is established.

2014

Joyful Kiichi Holdings Co., Ltd. is established. Kiichi Tools Co., Ltd. is established as a business company. Yoshinori Nakayama is appointed as President and CEO.

2017

Yoshinori Nakayama becomes Chairman of the Board, and Koyu Tsubaki becomes President and CEO.

2019

Koyu Tsubaki becomes Chairman of the Board, and Shinji Kajimoto becomes President and CEO.

2023

Takeshi Ishikawa is appointed as President and CEO.