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Corporate History

1918
Mar.   Shokosha Watch Research Institute established, the forerunner of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
1924
Dec.   First pocket watch completed.
1930
May   Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. established.
May   Yosaburo Nakajima appointed president.
1931
Jun.   First wrist watch completed.
1936
May   Tanashi Factory constructed.
1941
Jul.   Production of machine tools begins.
1945
Oct.   Shinji Nakajima appointed president.
1946
Mar.   Eiichi Yamada appointed president.
1949
Jun.   Citizen Trading Co., Ltd. established.
1952
Mar.   First Japanese-made watch with a calendar introduced.
1953
Mar.   Rhythm Watch Co., Ltd. becomes an affiliate.
1955
Dec.   Export of wrist watches begun.
1960
Mar.   Import-export agreement concluded with the U.S. Bulova Watch Co.
Mar.   Technical assistance agreement with India.
1964
Aug.   Technology research laboratory established.
Dec.   Citizen Business Machines established.
1965
Mar.   Production of business machines begun. (Adding machines, camera shutters)
Oct.   Office opened in former West Germany, start of full-fledged exports to Europe.
1966
Mar.   First Japanese-made electronic watch “X-8” introduced.
1970
Mar.   CNC automated lathe “Cincom” developed.
1971
Jun.   Precision Machinery Division established.
1976
Mar.   Production of quartz oscillators begun.
Aug.   World’s first analogue quartz watch with solar cell "CRYSTRON SOLAR CELL" introduced.
1978
Feb.   Head Office moved to Shinjuku Mitsui Bldg. in Tokyo.
1980
Jun.   Industry's first microcomputer controlled line impact printer introduced.
1981
Jun.   Rokuya Yamazaki appointed president.
Oct.   Systems and Peripherals Division established.
1982
Sep.   Special Sales Division established, full-fledged sales of watch components started.
1983
Mar.   Chip LED lamp CL Series developed.
May   IC sensor electronic thermometer introduced.
1987
Jun.   Michio Nakajima appointed president.
1990
Jan.   Citizen of the Year annual award established.
1992
Feb.   Acquired German machine tool company, Boley GmbH.
1993
May   World's first multizone “Radio-Controlled Watch” introduced.
1996
Apr.   Solar-powered Eco-Drive received the Eco Mark the first for a watch.
1997
Jun.   Hiroshi Haruta appointed president.
2001
Mar.   Head Office moved to Nishi-Tokyo.
2002
Mar.   Sales of white LED as a backlight for color LCDs started.
Jun.   Makoto Umehara appointed president.
2003
Jun.   World's first full metal case radio-controlled watch with built-in antenna introduced.
2004
Jan.   Implemented Citizen Code of Conduct.
Oct.   Merged with Citizen Trading Co., Ltd.
2005
Apr.   Citizen Systems Japan Co., Ltd. established.
Oct.   Five consolidated companies (Citizen Electronics, Miyota, Cimeo Precision, Sayama Precision Industries, Kawaguchiko Precision) become wholly owned subsidiaries.
Oct.   Names of Citizen Group companies changed.
2007
Apr.   Company name changed to Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd.
2008
Jan.   Bulova Corporation becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
Apr.   Mitsuyuki Kanamori appointed president.
Jul.   Citizen Miyota Co., Ltd. and Citizen Finetech Co., Ltd. merge.
Jul.   Citizen Finetech Miyota Co.,Ltd. established.
Oct.   Miyano Machinery Inc. becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
2011
Apr.   Citizen Machinery Co.,Ltd. and Miyano machinery Inc. merge.
Apr.   Citizen Machinery Miyano Co., Ltd. estabilished.
Sep.   World's first light-powered , satellite synchronised watch "Eco-Drive SATELLITE WAVE" introduced.
2012
Apr.   Toshio Tokura appointed president.
Apr.   Prothor Holding SA becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
2013
Jul.   Citizen Watch Manufacturing Co., Ltd. established.
2014
Apr.   Over 100,000 automatic lathes shipped.
2015
Apr.   Names of Citizen Machinery Miyano Co., Ltd. changed to Citizen Machinery Co., Ltd.
Apr.   Citizen Finetech Miyota Co.,Ltd. and Citizen Seimitsu Co., Ltd. merge.
Apr.   Citizen Finedevice Co., Ltd. established
2016
Jul.   Frederique Constant becomes a consolidated subsidiary.
Oct.   Citizen Holdings Co., Ltd., Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. and Citizen Business Expert Co., Ltd. merge.
Oct.   Company name changed to Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
Oct.   The world’s thinnest light-powered watch, "Eco-Drive One" introduced.
2018
May   Citizen Group Although the 100th anniversary.
2019
Apr.   Toshihiko Sato appointed president.
  • CITIZEN History

    CITIZEN History