Citizen 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 and 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. and 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.