History

Founding Stage1955 – 1961

1955

Internal Events

Oct.
  • NITTO OPTICAL Manufacturing Co., Ltd. established in Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo with a capital of 700 thousand yen.
  • Began production of binocular prisms in Usami-Hachiman, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

External Events

  • “Jimmu Boom” economic upturn in Japan
1959

Internal Events

Sep.
  • Head office relocated to Motomachi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo.

External Events

  • Liberalization of U.S. dollar exchange in Japan
1961

Internal Events

Sep.
  • Head office relocated to Yushima (now Hongo, Bunkyo-ku), Tokyo.

External Events

  • John F. Kennedy inaugurated as President of the United States

Development Stage1962 – 1969

1962

Internal Events

Sep.
  • Company name changed to NITTO OPTICAL CO., LTD.
Nov.
  • Began production of rough grinding for Penta prisms.

External Events

  • Tokyo’s population exceeded 10 million
1963

Internal Events

Aug.
  • Began production of polished Penta prisms.

External Events

  • Japan–U.S. TV satellite relay began
1964

Internal Events

Aug.
  • Shiki Factory established in Asaka, Saitama Prefecture.
  • Began polishing production of Penta prisms and high-precision prisms.

External Events

  • Tokyo Olympic Games held
1967

Internal Events

Aug.
  • New construction of Ito Factory completed Usami-Hachiman, Ito City.

External Events

  • Japan’s automobile ownership reached 10 million
1968

Internal Events

Oct.
  • Second phase of new construction at Ito Factory completed.

External Events

  • Japan’s Gross National Product (GNP) became the world’s second largest after the U.S.
1969

Internal Events

Apr.
  • New factory completed in Nobidome, Niiza City, Saitama Prefecture. Production began as Saitama Factory after relocating from Shiki Factory.
May.
  • Established the Trade Department and began overseas promotion.

External Events

  • U.S. Apollo 11 satellite landed on the moon, first human landing

Leap Stage1970 – 1980

1970

Internal Events

Mar.
  • Tokyo Research Laboratory established in Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, entering into vacuum deposition field.
May.
  • New headquarters building completed in Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, and the head office relocated from Yushima, Bunkyo-ku.

External Events

  • Launch of Japan’s first domestically produced satellite “Ohsumi”
1972

Internal Events

Jan.
  • Capital increased to 20 million yen.
Mar.
  • NITTO OPTICAL OF AKITA CO., LTD. established in Tazawako, Akita Prefecture with a capital of 10 million yen.

External Events

  • “Remodeling the Japanese Archipelago”
1973

Internal Events

Feb.
  • [Nitto Optical] Started mass production of aluminum coating deposited Penta prisms.

External Events

  • Oil Crisis
1974

Internal Events

Dec.
  • Capital increased to 25 million yen.

External Events

  • Shigeo Nagashima of the Yomiuri Giants retired from Japanese professional baseball
1975

Internal Events

Jun.
  • [Nitto Optical] Started mass production of silver-coating deposited Penta prisms.
Dec.
  • Capital increased to 30 million yen.

External Events

  • Opening of Okinawa International Ocean Exposition
1976

Internal Events

Jan.
  • Kanagawa Factory (Ashigarakami-gun, Kanagawa Prefecture) began production of ITO, expanding technology and production of vacuum coatings.
Mar.
  • NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD. established in Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo with a capital of 10 million yen.
Dec.
  • Capital increased to 40 million yen.

External Events

  • Launch of VHS video
1978

Internal Events

May.
  • Ito Second Factory completed in Namotoishi, Ito City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

External Events

  • Opening ceremony of Narita International Airport
1979

Internal Events

Apr.
  • Tokyo Research Laboratory reorganized as the Mejiro Factory, starting research and production of tools and jigs.
Oct.
  • [Nitto Optical] Introduced Zygo Interferometer “Mark II”.

External Events

  • Sony released the Walkman
1980

Internal Events

Mar.
  • NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD. Purchased a factory in Akagi, Rokugo Town.

External Events

  • Momoe Yamaguchi retired, holding a farewell concert at Nippon Budokan

Challenge Stage1981 – 1990

1981

Internal Events

Jan.
  • [Nitto Vacuum Coating] Started mass production of enhanced reflection mirrors.

External Events

  • Launch of U.S. Space Shuttle
1983

Internal Events

Apr.
  • NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD. Started mass production of non-polarized and polarized beam splitters for CD players.

External Events

  • Opening of Tokyo Disneyland
1984

Internal Events

Dec.
  • Mejiro Factory relocated to Takada, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, renamed Tokyo Factory.

External Events

  • NHK began satellite TV broadcasting
1985

Internal Events

Feb.
  • Exhibited at Harumi International Trade Fair Electro-Optics/Laser Exhibition.
Mar.
  • Capital increased to 950 million yen through third-party allocation by Tokyo Small and Medium Business Investment & Development Co., Ltd.
Aug.
  • First phase construction (grinding factory) completed at Ito Factory, Futo, Ito City.
Sep.
  • 30th anniversary company trip to Okinawa.

External Events

  • Tsukuba Expo ’85 (World Exposition)
1986

Internal Events

Jan.
  • Introduced rotary polishing machine at Ito Factory.
Sep.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Began deposition of phase shift coatings and excimer laser mirror coatings.
Oct.
  • Closed Kanagawa Factory.

External Events

1988

Internal Events

Jan.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Developed automatic ellipsometer in-house.
Jul.
  • [Nitto Optical] Acquired MIL standards certification.
Nov.
  • Awarded as an excellent corporation.(1st recognition)

External Events

  • Opening of Seikan Tunnel and Seto Ohashi Bridge
1989

Internal Events

Jul.
  • Introduced ITO manufacturing equipment from France into Ito Second Factory.
Oct.
  • [Nitto Optical] Introduced ZYGO 32 inch interferometer.
Nov.
  • Received research grant for Etalon from Small-to Medium-sized Enterprise Venture Promotion Foundation.

External Events

  • Fall of the Berlin Wall
1990

Internal Events

Mar.
  • Received the Award of Merit in the category of Outstanding New Technology and New Products for SMEs, co-sponsored by Kyowa Technology Promotion Center and Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, for the development of Fabry–Perot Etalon.
May.
  • Exhibited at Hannover Messe in Germany.

External Events

  • Expo ’90 (International Garden and Greenery Exposition, Osaka)

Expansion Stage1991 – 2005

1991

Internal Events

May.
  • Closed Tokyo Factory and consolidated into Saitama Factory.
Oct.
  • Started P-coating for roof prisms for binoculars at Ito Factory.
Dec.
  • [Nitto Optical] Received Labor Minister’s Award (Award of Merit for Safety and Health) for safety and health.

External Events

  • Opening of Narita Express
1992

Internal Events

Dec.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Participated in Akita Advanced Technology Research Institute’s open lab (one full-time researcher stationed).

External Events

  • Japanese astronaut Mamoru Mohri launched on Space Shuttle
1993

Internal Events

Dec.
  • Kenichiro Yamada appointed as President.

External Events

  • J.League, a professional soccer league, inaugurated
1994

Internal Events

Sep.
  • Established NITTO OPTICAL (H.K.) CO., LTD.

External Events

  • Chiaki Mukai launched on Space Shuttle
1995

Internal Events

Mar.
  • Began processing X-cube prisms for LCD projectors at Ito Factory.
Aug.
  • NITTO OPTICAL (H.K.) CO., LTD. Signed subcontract agreement with Zhongshan, Guangdong Province.
Sep.
  • 40th anniversary company trip to Kyushu.(Nagasaki/Kumamoto)
Dec.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Rokugo Factory acquired ISO9002 certification.

External Events

  • Tokyo market hit record high ¥79.75/USD
1996

Internal Events

Jan.
  • [Nitto Optical] Acquired ISO9002 certification.
May.
  • Ito Factory acquired ISO9002 certification.

External Events

  • Mobile phone & PHS subscribers exceeded 20 million
1997

Internal Events

Feb.
  • Invited Dr. Baumeister.
Aug.
  • Selected for SME Agency’s Creative Technology R&D Project.
  • Started mass production of optical components for DVDs.

External Events

  • Hong Kong returned to China
1998

Internal Events

Oct.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Adopted by NEDO’s Consortium R&D Program for venture companies.

External Events

  • Wakanohana’s consecutive championships led to the first pair of Yokozuna brothers in Sumo wrestling.
1999

Internal Events

Nov.
  • China Factory acquired ISO9002 certification.

External Events

  • Introduction of Euro currency in 11 EU countries
2000

Internal Events

Jan.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Designated as Akita Prefecture’s Key Enterprise R&D company.
Mar.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Central R&D Center completed.
Sep.
  • 45th anniversary training trip.(China new factory)
Nov.
  • HQ relocated to Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

External Events

  • IT recession
2001

Internal Events

Sep.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Central R&D Center acquired ISO14001 certification.
Dec.
  • Ito Factory acquired ISO14001 certification.

External Events

  • Japanese government officially recognized first postwar deflation
2002

Internal Events

Mar.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Rokugo Factory & Central R&D Center acquired ISO9001 certification.
Sep.
  • Ito Factory acquired ISO9001 certification.
Nov.
  • [Nitto Optical] acquired ISO9001 certification.
Dec.
  • China Factory acquired ISO14001 & ISO9001 certification.

External Events

  • Masatoshi Koshiba (Physics) and Koichi Tanaka (Chemistry) won Nobel Prizes – the first time Japan received Nobel Prizes in two different fields in the same year.
2003

Internal Events

Mar.
  • [NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD.] Rokugo Factory acquired ISO14001 certification.
Jun.
  • Founder Ryuichi Fujisawa passed away.

External Events

  • Personal Information Protection Law enacted
2004

Internal Events

Aug.
  • [Nitto Optical] acquired ISO14001 certification.

External Events

  • Ichiro Suzuki set MLB single-season hit record with 262 hits
2005

Internal Events

Jun.
  • Capital increased to 4.979 billion yen.
Oct.
  • 50th anniversary.

External Events

  • Astronaut Soichi Noguchi launched on Space Shuttle

Integration Stage2006 – 2014

2006

Internal Events

Apr.
  • NITTO OPTICAL OF AKITA CO., LTD., and NITTO THIN FILM LABORATORY CO., LTD. merged, marking the start of the new Nitto Optical.

External Events

  • Japan won the inaugural WBC (World Baseball Classic) under manager Sadaharu Oh
2008

Internal Events

External Events

  • Global financial crisis (Lehman Shock)
2011

Internal Events

External Events

  • Great East Japan Earthquake

Transformation Stage2015 –

2015

Internal Events

Jul.
  • Capital reduced to 100 million yen.
Oct.
  • 60th anniversary.

External Events

  • Opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line
2016

Internal Events

Jul.
  • Nitto Optical (ZHONGSHAN) Co., Ltd. established as a wholly-owned subsidiary
Dec.
  • Kenichiro Yamada appointed Chairman.
  • Yoichiro Yamada appointed President.

External Events

  • Rio Olympics, Japan won a record 41 medals
2017

Internal Events

Mar.
  • Misato Factory expanded.

External Events

  • Nikkei Stock Average reached post-bubble high
2018

Internal Events

Apr.
  • Closure of NITTO OPTICAL (H.K.) CO., LTD. following incorporation of Nitto Optical (ZHONGSHAN) Co., Ltd.
  • Adopted for Shizuoka Advanced Enterprise Development Project.
  • Launched free medical checkups for employees over 50.

External Events

  • US-China trade friction intensified
2019

Internal Events

Oct.
  • Introduced online employee training service.

External Events

  • Start of Reiwa era
  • Consumption tax raised to 10%
2020

Internal Events

Apr.
  • Implemented remote work (Headquarters) due to COVID-19.

External Events

  • COVID-19 pandemic
  • Tokyo Olympics postponed
2021

Internal Events

Oct.
  • Introduced flextime system at Headquarters.

External Events

  • Tokyo Olympics held (without spectators)
2023

Internal Events

Sep.
  • Tazawako Factory celebrated 50th anniversary, commended by Akita Prefecture.
Dec.
  • President Yoichiro Yamada received Grand Manager Award at the 41st Excellent Manager Awards, organized by the Nikkei Kogyo Shimbun.

External Events

  • Japan won WBC (World Baseball Classic) (3rd title)
2024

Internal Events

Feb.
  • Commendation from JAXA for product supply to XRISM(X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission) satellite.
Apr.
  • Launched “Nitto Green 2030” carbon neutrality initiative.
  • Ito Factory expanded.
Jun.
  • Received commendation as Excellent Tax Declaration Corporation .(2nd time)

External Events

  • Shohei Ohtani achieved MLB’s first 50 HR–50 SB season
2025

Internal Events

Oct.
  • 70th anniversary.

External Events

  • Osaka-Kansai Expo

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