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COMPANY MILESTONES

      

Year Events
1937 Established as a textile business.
1947 Conducted export and sales of silk gowns and robe coats; later shifted focus to sales of export towels and became specialized in export towels. Limited Company established. 
 
 
1949 Approved as a towel wholesale trade company by the Ministry of the International Trade and Industry in Japan. Shifted to domestic sales and commenced business with department stores across Japan.
1950 Introduction of the first Jacquard and custom personalized towel in Japan.
1952 Established Osaka Branch.
1956 Introduction of the first printed towel in the world.
 

 
1959 Established Sapporo Branch.
1960 With print towel technology, signed license agreement with Walt Disney Company.
Introduction of the first licensed branded towel in the industry.
1963 Changed the company name to “UCHINO CO.,LTD.”
1970 Established Nagoya Branch. Signed license agreement with Yves Saint Laurent.
Introduction of the first sports towel in Japan.
 

 
1971 Signed license agreement with Pierre Cardin.
1974 Established distribution center in Minamisuna,Koto-ku, Tokyo.
1975 Established Fukuoka Branch.
1977 Introduction of the first nonply yarn towel in Japan.
1978 Signed license agreement with Givenchy.
Launched “Yoh Shomei”
1983 Identity implemented. Green is selected as corporate color.
 

 
Debut of the first house brand “Green Grass” featuring natural colors.|
 

 
First in Japan to develop and market cotton towel muffler.
 

 
1984 First in Japan to develop the “towelchief”, which combines the absorbent properties of towels and the compact size of handkerchiefs, entering the handkerchief market.
 

 
First to introduce “Jinbei” using terry fabric in the industry.
1985 Established a second distribution center in Shinonome, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
1988 Established a joint venture factory in Thailand, RAJA UCHINO CO., LTD.
Opened antenna shop "The Body & Bath Shop and “The Country Store” the first lifestyle type bath shop in the world, in Omotesando, Tokyo.
 

 
1990 Established Uchino International Pte Ltd (sales company) in Singapore.
1991 Signed a manufacturing consignment contract with Crescent Textile Mills Limited, a major spinning company in Pakistan.
 

 
1993 Established SHANGHAI UCHINO CO., Uchino's first proprietary factory, in the suburbs of Shanghai, China.
1994 The Omotesando antenna shop “The Country Store” is closed and “Uchino Towel Gallery” is opened in its place.
1997 Omotesando's antenna shop "The Country Store" reopened as "Uchino Towel Gallery"
Achieved target of one computer per employee for shift to IT.
2000 Moved Omotesando antenna shop “The Body & Bath Shop” to Odaiba in Tokyo and Lalaport in Chiba.
 

 
Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Makuhari Store in Chiba and Kameido Elnard Store in Tokyo.
Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Kawaguchi Diamond City Carat Store in Saitama.
2001 Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Aeon Yamato Store in Kanagawa.
2002 Opened “The Body & Bath Shop” Rinku Premium Outlet Store in Osaka, Nagashima Resort Store in Mie, and Itami Diamond City Terrace Store in Hyogo.
2003 New head office building constructed. New corporate identity implemented.
 

 
TOUCH” at Roppongi Hills.
 

 
Established Qingdao Uchino Distribution and Inspection Center.
2005 Established a new distribution center in Minamikaijin, Funabashi-shi, Chiba.
  

 
2007 Displayed items at the world’s largest home textile exhibition, Heimtextil in Frankfurt. 
 

 

 
Introduction of the UCHINO PRESTIGE COLLECTION at Le Bon Marche department store in Paris.
2008 Participated in Maison & Objet Exhibition held twice a year in Paris, France for the first time.
2009 Received the Discovery award (les decouvertes) at the January Maison & Objet Exhibition.
2011 Published a book Intelligent “Bath Time” proposed by TOUCH ~ Science of Relaxation ~
Introduced a new feel towel like marshmallow.
Obtained patent of “Indoor Dry Towel” suitable for drying indoors.
2012 Published a book The Book of Towels created by the Ultimate Towel Company. 
Participated in New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) for the first time. 
Awarded “Thailand’s Best Friends 2012”. 
Established Uchino France SAS. 
2013 Registered Marshmallow Towel as a Utility Model
Released “UCHINO Quality” standard for safe and secure items that even babies may put in their mouths
New proposal of towels and gauze as “draping fabrics” rather than “wiping fabrics”; launched sales of items developed in collaboration with the factory brand “ao”
Acquired patents for the triple-layer gauze Marshmallow Gauze and Puff Gauze woven with zero-twist yarn and regular yarn
2014 Opened the first gauze and towel boutique in the world “UCHINO MY GAUZE MY TOWEL” on the 2nd floor of Tamagawa Takashimaya S.C Main Building
Halted production at Shanghai Uchino Co., Ltd.; continued with reinforced inspection, processing, and retailing in China.
Established SHANGHAI UCHINO TRADING CO.,LTD. ; separated sales office from Shanghai Uchino Co., Ltd.
2015 Marshmallow Gauze® " OMOTNASHI Selection 2015 " Gold Award
Fukuoka branch relocation
Concluded a joint venture agreement with Rarai Family Spinning Co., Ltd.
2016 Marshmallow Gauze® Senken Shinbunsha sponsored " 2015 6th Department Store Living Buyers Award " Best-selling Award in the Bath and Toiletries category
2017 Launched "Miracle Towel ® Super Marshmallow ®"
Miraculous Towel ® Super Marshmallow ® "OMOTENASHI Selection
2017" Award Marshmallow Gauze R pajamas TVCM aired in Kansai area
2018 "Takumi no Kiwami ®" released
"UCHINO TOUCH Roppongi Hills store" reopened
 

 
2019 Happy to touch and happy to use "New touch of excitement"
"Happy Towel ®" released
Antenna shop "UCHINO relax" opens in Shibuya Scramble Square
 

 
Published in "Newsweek International September 13-20, 2019"
Article by Nobuyuki Uchino, President and CEO
Superior Japanese quality you can feel on your skin : Great Japanese quality that you can feel on your skin