History

1902	Company founded. Narajiro Wataya establishes a sumi ink manufacturing business under the trade name Wataya Shokai.
1924	Establishes Gomei Kaisha Seishodo Shokai.
1932	Establishes Seishodo Shokai Co., Ltd.
1945	Company name changed to Seishodo Co., Ltd.
1953	Company name changed to Kuretake Seishodo Co., Ltd.
1956	New head office building completed in Omiya-cho, Nara City.
1958	Developed liquid sumi ink "Sumboku".
1963	Successfully developed the sign pen, hailed as a revolution in writing instruments.
1965	Established Kuretake Kogyo Co., Ltd. as a specialized factory for writing instrument production. Began international trade. Established Tokyo Sales Office.
1968	Constructed a pen production factory.
1973	Introduced computers. Developed the "Kuretake Fudepen" brush pen.
1977	Tokyo Sales Office became Tokyo Branch Office with the completion of its new building.
1981	Exhibited at the Frankfurt International Trade Fair. Has exhibited every year since.
1986	Developed "SR Black" snow melting agent for golf courses.
1987	Developed Kuretake Suibokuga (ink painting) supplies.
1990	Developed "Oyaatto Nori" (easy-to-use glue) and "Kuretake Mannen Mouhitsu" (permanent brush pen).
1991	Implemented 90th anniversary projects.
1992	New head office building and factory completed at the current location.
1993	Held the 90th-anniversary "Fushinjo Campaign" inviting 200 domestic dealers. Held "KURETAKE '90" with the participation of 20 overseas dealers.
1994	Kuretake Seishodo Co., Ltd. and Kuretake Kogyo Co., Ltd. merged, starting anew as Kuretake Seishodo Co., Ltd. under a new system.
1997	Developed "Mannen Mouhitsu Honurushi" (permanent brush pen with genuine lacquer) and "Mizufudepen" (water brush pen). Held the 1st "Kuretake Etegami Contest". Began developing the art & craft market as a Kuretake business strategy. Opened Art & Craft DUO Nagoya, our first directly managed store.
1998	Developed Etegami (picture letter) related products.
1999	Developed "Tenshuzu Sumi" and "Sanjurokkasen Sumi" (sumi ink sticks). Opened Art & Craft DUO Yokohama Aobadai store.
2000	Developed solid transparent watercolor paints. Acquired ISO9002 international certification for quality assurance.
2001	Developed "Sumisuri-ki Juyu Mujin" (automatic sumi ink grinding machine).
2002	Celebrated 100th anniversary on October 1st. Began full-scale domestic sales of scrapbooking related products.
2003	Introduced CI (Corporate Identity). Company name changed to Kuretake Co., Ltd. from June. Constructed a logistics warehouse within the pen factory premises. Opened Art & Craft DUO Fukuoka Meinohama store. Constructed a DUO store within Narayama Research Park, opening as Art & Craft DUO Nara Narayama store.
2004	Developed "Kuretake Mannen Mouhitsu Yumeginnga".
2006	Developed "Kuretake Etegami Gansai Tambi".
2008	Opened "Takenoko-en" in-house childcare facility for employees. Expanded ISO9001 registration for Kuretake and ZIG brand writing instruments, writing inks, synthetic glue pens, solid sumi ink, liquid sumi ink, and paints. (Associated offices: Tokyo Branch, Pen Factory, Higashiyama Factory, Mikataya Factory) Developed "Kuretake Mannen Hitsu Starry Night" fountain pen. Tokyo Branch moved to Chuo Nihonbashi. "Kuretake Mannen Mouhitsu Starry Night" won the "2008 Nara Good Design" award. Selected as one of "300 Energetic Monozukuri SMEs in 2008".
2009	Our website won the "9th Hobby Industry Award [Japan Hobby Association Award]".
2010	Acquired ISO14001 international certification for environmental improvement. Received the Governor's Award as a "Nara Prefecture Employee & Shine Workplace Promotion Company". Received the Nara Labor Bureau Director's Excellence Award in the Gender Equality Promotion Company category at the "2010 Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance Promotion Company Awards".
2011	"Niji no Sai" colored calligraphy ink for fabric drawing won the "11th Hobby Industry Award [Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Manufacturing Industries Bureau Director's Award]". "ZIG Letter pen COCOIRO" won the "20th Japan Stationery Award [Excellence Award]", and the "Bunshi MESSE 2011 New Product Contest Design Division [Excellence Award]". Acquired the "Kurumin" certification mark as a certified company under the Act on Advancement of Measures to Support Raising the Next Generation.
2012	Received the Nara Labor Bureau Director's Encouragement Award in the Family-Friendly Company category at the "2012 Gender Equality and Work-Life Balance Promotion Company Awards".
2013	"Echizen Washi no Fusen" (Echizen Washi sticky notes), an eco-friendly sticky note using Echizen Washi paper, won the "13th Hobby Industry Award [Japan Hobby Association Award]". "ZIG Brush Highlight Sat-to" won the "48th International Premium Incentive Show Autumn 2013 [Giveaway Product Contest Grand Prize]".
2014	Established local subsidiary "Kuretake ZIG Corporation" in Sacramento, California, USA. "Kuretake Mannen Mouhitsu Maki-e Monogatari" won the "49th Premium Incentive Show [Premium Incentive Tool Contest Grand Prize]". "ZIG Memory System Wink of Luna Brush" won the "23rd Japan Stationery Award 2014 Design Division [Grand Prix]".
2017	"Gansai Tambi Starry Colors," a beautiful gold-based Gansai watercolor paint, won the "17th Hobby Industry Award, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Manufacturing Industries Bureau Director's Award." As part of Kuretake Co., Ltd.'s 115th anniversary project, a monument "Current" (created by Hidetoshi Takahama) was installed in front of the head office.
2018	Received the "3rd Centennial Company Award, Kinki Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director's Award" from the Centennial Management Association (Secretariat: Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun). Nara Prefecture's "Nara Sumi" was designated as a national traditional craft by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.
2019	Received the "Special Award" at the 52nd Good Company Awards hosted by the Public Interest Incorporated Association, Japan Research Institute for Small Business.