ITOCHU's founder, Chubei Itoh, commenced linen trading operations at the age of 15.

Chubei Itoh establishes the "Benichu" drapery shop in Osaka.

An expanded Benichu is renamed "Itoh Honten" (Itoh Headquarters).

Chubei Itoh establishes Itoh Itomise (Thread and Yarn Store), to which ITOCHU traces its roots.

Itoh Itomise is reorganized under the name C. Itoh & Co.

C. Itoh & Co. is transformed into a public stock company-C. Itoh & Co., Ltd.

The CI logo is created for use outside Japan.

Daiken Co., Ltd., a company created from the merger of trading and manufacturing firms during World War II, sepa- rates into C. Itoh & Co., Ltd., Kureha Cotton Spinning Co., Ltd., Marubeni Co., Ltd., and Amagasaki Nail Works, Ltd.

The Company is commissioned to supply a complete oil refinery to Algeria for approximately $70 million, the most expensive Japanese plant export contract at that time. The Company becomes the first Japanese sogo shosha to procure an impact loan from the United Kingdom.

To mark the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Company opens the new C. Itoh Head Office building in Osaka.

The Company assists in arranging a basic contract for cooperation between General Motors Corporation of the United States and Isuzu Motors, Ltd. of Japan.

The Chinese government welcomes C. Itoh as a friendly trading company, the first such recognition given to a Japanese sogo shosha.

ITOCHU Foundation is established to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Company's postwar rebirth.

The Company acquires Ataka & Co., Ltd., a sogo shosha involved primarily in steel-related business.

The Company receives an order from Saudi Arabia for the construction of the world's largest water desalination plant.

The Company completes the construction of a new head office building in the Aoyama district of Tokyo.

C. Itoh obtains an order for the construction of the second bridge spanning the Bosporus.

Japan's first private-sector communications satellite, JCSAT-1, is successfully launched.

The Department of the Global Environment is established and assigned the task of promoting corporate activities that contribute to environmental protection as well as sound economic development.

I n preparation for an aggressive expansion of its multimedia business, the Company establishes ties with U.S.-based media giant Time Warner Inc.

Implementation of ITOCHU's New CI program leads to a new expression of the official corporate ideals, the adoption of the current English-language name, and the creation of a new corporate logo.

Beer production in China begins in cooperation with Asahi Breweries, Ltd.

ITOCHU acquires the Yarun power plant, a coal-fired thermal electric power generation facility in Australia.

The Company begins participating in the development of three oil fields in Azerbaijan.

ITOCHU helps establish Japan's first multichannel digital television broadcasting service, PerfecTV!

Division Company system introduced.
ITOCHU becomes the first sogo shosha to receive environmental certificate ISO14001

The ITOCHU Group acquires stock in FamilyMart Co.,Ltd.

Announced a management plan for the 21st century.
" Executive Officer " post introduced.

Tie-up with The Seibu Department Stores, Ltd. Also, capital participation in Seibu Department Stores and YOSHINOYA D&C Co., Ltd.

Marubeni-Itochu Steel Inc. established.

ITOCHU and the government of China's Shandong Province team up to jointly develop businesses in the province

Gambare Japanese Company Fund established.