Corporate History

1920s onward

On February 2, 1924, Eiichiro Tomiyama founded Tomiyama Toy Seisakusho, the predecessor of today’s TOMY Company, Ltd. The company manufactured numerous toy airplanes, establishing a reputation in the industry linking the Tomiyama name with toy airplanes. Later, the company expanded its business through one industry-leading initiative after another, including the establishment of the first factory in the toy industry with an assembly line system and the creation of a toy research department.
Tomiyama also contributed greatly to the modernization of the toy industry through its determined efforts to improve the standing of toy manufacturers.

1924 Aero Plane Breguet
1930 Looping Plane
1935 Air Man
1937 Tank

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1950s

After World War II, the company’s U.S. B-29 Bomber friction toy became a major hit in and outside Japan, blazing the way for the export of large toys. In 1953 the company began its journey toward becoming a modern enterprise by incorporating, and in 1959 it established a sales subsidiary, which had been an ardent wish since its founding. Around this time, waves of material and technological innovation rolled over the toy industry, ushering in a major turning point when metal was replaced with plastic and friction toys were succeeded by electric toys. The predecessor of Takara Co., Ltd., was founded as Satoh Vinyl Industries, Ltd., on September 17, 1955.

1951 B-29
1953 Speedway Racer No.3
1957 Bubble Blowing Elephant
1959 Sky Ping-Pong
1959 Plastic Train and Rail Set

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1960s

At a time when half of the toys it produced were exported, Tomy was quick to open representative offices in New York and Europe with the aim of making inroads directly. In Japan, the company established production bases in Tokyo and Mibu one after the other, set up a development center—an unprecedented move in the industry—and took other steps to create a system uncompromisingly committed to good manufacturing.
Takara grew into a comprehensive toy manufacturer, propelled by a driving force for business expansion provided by a hit product that made use of the company’s vinyl processing technology.

1960 Piggy Cook
1960 Dakko-Chan
1964 Ohanashi Miko-Chan (Talking Miko-Chan)
1967 Licca Doll
1968 The Game of Life(Japanese version)
1969 Tumble Robot

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1970s

After commissioning production in Hong Kong, Tomy opened its first factory in Singapore, making it one of the early companies to embark on overseas production. Masanari Tomiyama was appointed the second president and CEO in 1974, the company’s 50th anniversary. Tomy and Takara both released numerous products that have remained long sellers right up to today.

1970 Tomica
1974 Microman(Micronauts)
1975 Pop Up Pirate
1975 Pocket Mate
1976 Water Game
1977 Sensei
1977 Koeda-Chan mini-dolls(Treena &Her Forest Friends)

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1980s

Tomy established the Handicap Toy Laboratory in 1980 and popularized efforts in the industry to create barrier-free toys. In 1985 the Plaza Accord threw the company into a sudden management crisis, and drastic reforms were implemented, including the closure of factories in Japan. The following year, Kantaro Tomiyama was appointed the third president and CEO in a shakeup of the management structure.
Takara went public in 1984 and steadily grew, being listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1986. In 1988, the company switched from a focus on its core business of toys to diversified operations, rolling out products aimed at a wide range of fields.

1980 Choro-Q(Penny Racers)
1982 Cotton Candy Maker
1983 Zoids
1984 Transformers
1986 Jenny Doll
1987 Palm Pets
1988 Rock 'n' Flowers

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1990s

Tomy prepared for regeneration with a new structure, shifting from pushing products out to the market to incorporating the needs of the market into products. With this, it announced a business diversification strategy focused on the three core areas of toys, general goods, and multimedia products. It rolled out a stream of new measures, including the attempt to enter the character business and a business alliance with the US's Hasbro, Inc. In 1997 Tomy went public and in 1999 it was listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
From the second half of the 1980s, Takara continued to expand its Hearty Series for enriching people’s lives and released products based on TV characters that became hits. With this aggressive product expansion, the company was listed on the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

1990 Musican
1991 Breezy Singers
1993 B-Daman
1994 Magic Design Tracer
1997 Pokémon toys
1998 Xiao
1999 Furby
1999 Beyblade

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2000s

Tomy concluded a comprehensive licensing agreement with Walt Disney International Japan Inc. in 2000, the same year its stock was transferred to the first section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In pursuit of further growth, Tomy aimed for progress as a group, including the establishment of a development subsidiary and the founding of a new company for the planning and selling of plush toys and a company for utilizing new technology.
At Takara, Keita Satoh was appointed president in 2000 and advocated expansion of the toy business. The company aggressively moved forward with the rollout of products that broke the toy mold and leveraged its planning and marketing prowess to continue offering a succession of popular products.
In 2006, Takara and Tomy merged, becoming TOMY Co., Ltd., (known as TAKARATOMY in Japanese) with the aim of maximizing their respective strengths and becoming the world's top toy manufacturer.

2000 e-kara
2001 Colorful Dakko-Chan
2002 Bowlingual
2002 Nohohonzoku
2002 Duel Masters
2005 Yumel
2006 Jinsei Ginko (Life Bank)
2007 Omnibot 17μ i-SOBOT
2007 Ie-Soba Home Soba Maker
2007 Air Guitar
2007 Pokémon Battrio
2008 Tomica Hero
2009 Fresh Caramel Maker
2009 Clockman

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2010s onward

Since 2010, TOMY has been accelerating its international expansion.
It introduced an overseas version of TOMICA in Europe and North America. It began marketing METAL FIGHT BEYBLADE toys worldwide in conjunction with the introduction of a new TV anime (the actual names of the toys and anime differ by region). The toys are enjoying so much enthusiasm that an international competition was held in South Korea in the summer of 2010.
In 2011, TOMY acquired U.S. toy manufacturer RC2, establishing a platform for global expansion.
The entire TOMY Group has started to move into action together, aiming to be a truly global toy company.

2010 Pretty Rhythm
2010 Furu Chara Sorbet Maker
2010 Potechi No Te
2011 Mimicry Pet
2012 Pokémon TRETTA
2012 BATTROBORG 20
2013 ANIA
2014 PRIPARA
2014 WIXOSS
2015 BEYBLADE BURST
2015 SHINKALION
2015 OHaNAS
2015 Linear Liner
2015 LiccA Stylish Doll collections
2016 Licca Bijou Series
2016 Pokémon Ga-Olé
2016 HATCHIMALS Umarete!Woomo
2017 DRIVE HEAD
2017 Miracle Tunes!
2017 PRINTOSS(KiiPix)
2018 ZOIDS WILD
2018 L.O.L.SURPRISE!
2019 Rizmo
2019 DUEL MASTERS PLAY'S
2020 TOMICA EARTH GRANNER
2020 Pokémon MEZASTAR
2021 Shinkansen Henkei Robo SHINKALION Z
2021 Punirunes
2022 TOMICA Heroes Jobraver Specially-equipped combined robot
2022 coemo
2023 BEYBLADE X
2023 SORA-Q Flagship Model
2023 Jinsei game for Nintendo Switch™

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