SB Pan Pacific Corporation

1981-1996: パソコン・ソフトウエア

パソコン・ソフトウエア

1981年9月 株式会社日本ソフトバンク設立、パソコン用パッケージソフトの流通事業を開始

While studying in the U.S., Masayoshi Son came across a striking picture of a microchip on a science magazine, which convinced him that the age of personal computers was coming. He moved on to launch the very first business to distribute PC software throughout Japan. He named his company Nihon SoftBank (current SoftBank Group Corp.) ―a software bank that would serve as the infrastructure of the new information society to be built in Japan.

株式会社日本ソフトバンク設立、パソコン用パッケージソフトの流通事業を開始

Nihon SoftBank created to distribute packaged software

1982年5月 出版事業を開始 日本のパソコンユーザーの裾野を広げることを目指し、1982年5月にメーカー別にパソコンやソフトウエアを紹介する専門月刊誌「Oh! PC」と「Oh! MZ」の出版を開始

As PCs became more popular in Japan, Nihon SoftBank launched Oh! PC and Oh! MZ in May 1982. Those monthly magazines targeted exclusively manufacturers and engineers, a stark contrast to the general PC magazines that were dominant in the industry at the time. The unique style of SoftBank’s magazines gained much public attention.

出版事業を開始

Entered publishing business, launching Oh! PC and Oh! MZ

1990年7月 株式会社日本ソフトバンクは、ソフトバンク株式会社（現 ソフトバンクグループ株式会社）に社名を変更

Aiming to transform into a global company, Nihon SoftBank changed its name to SoftBank Corp. (current SoftBank Group Corp.) in July 1990. During this period, SoftBank brought new services to Japan from the U.S. As a part of it, SoftBank Holdings Inc. was established in the U.S. to identify investment opportunities in promising Internet-related companies.

グローバル企業として変遷するため株式会社日本ソフトバンクは、ソフトバンク株式会社（現 ソフトバンクグループ株式会社）に社名を変更。この時期のソフトバンクは、「タイムマシン経営」を標榜し、米国で誕生した事業を続々と日本に持ち込んでおり、その一環として、現地のインターネット関連企業に関する情報収集や戦略的投資を目的に、米国法人SoftBank Holdings Inc.を設立しました。

Aiming to transform into a global company, Nihon SoftBank changed its name to SoftBank Corp.

Through SoftBank Holdings Inc., acquired the events division of Ziff Communications Company, took a capital stake in the exhibition department of The Interface Group which operated “COMDEX,” the world’s largest computer trade show, and acquired Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., a publisher of PC WEEK. Following the launch of OTC trading in July 1994, SoftBank Corp. (current SoftBank Group Corp.) acquired a computer trade show operator and a publisher in the U.S.

1994年3月 SoftBank Holdings Inc.を米国に設立

Aiming to transform into a global company, Nihon SoftBank changed its name to SoftBank Corp. (current SoftBank Group Corp.) in July 1990. During this period, SoftBank brought new services to Japan from the U.S. As a part of it, SoftBank Holdings Inc. was established in the U.S. to identify investment opportunities in promising Internet-related companies.

SoftBank Holdings Inc.を米国に設立

Established SoftBank Holdings Inc. in the U.S.

1994年7月 株式を日本証券業協会に登録 ソフトバンク株式会社（現 ソフトバンクグループ株式会社）は日本証券業協会への株式の登録、いわゆる「店頭公開」で株式市場への上場を果たしました

SoftBank Corp. (current SoftBank Group Corp.) registered with the Japan Securities Dealers Association and began offering shares publicly on the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Using the 20 billion yen raised from this offering, SoftBank began considering a large-scale acquisition.

株式を日本証券業協会に登録

Registered with Japan Securities Dealers Association

To launch a full-scale Internet business in Japan, SoftBank Corp. (current SoftBank Group Corp.) established Yahoo Japan Corporation (current LY Corporation) through joint investment with Yahoo! Inc. in the U.S., after taking a stake in it in November 1995.

1996-2006: インターネット

1996年1月 米国Yahoo! Inc. との共同出資で日本法人ヤフー株式会社を設立

Established Yahoo Japan Corporation through joint investment with Yahoo! Inc. in the U.S.

インターネット

1996 was a remarkable year for SoftBank as the company moved to launch an increasing number of several Internet-related businesses and subsidiaries.

1998年1月 東京証券取引所市場第一部へ上場

SoftBank Corp. listed on the First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange

SoftBank Corp. listed on the First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The company demerged its divisions into separate companies to become a pure holding company in the following year, creating a new operating structure with increased business mobility.

2000年 Alibaba.com Corporationに出資

Investment in Alibaba.com Corporation

Investment in Alibaba.com Corporation.

The two companies, current Alibaba Group Holding Limited and SoftBank Group Corp., built a close relationship through business partnerships, joint ventures, joint investments, and other collaborations.

2001年9月 ビー・ビー・テクノロジー株式会社が「Yahoo! BB」の商用サービスを開始

BB Technologies Corporation launched Yahoo! BB broadband service

BB Technologies Corporation launched Yahoo! BB broadband service. Aiming to provide cheaper and faster access to the Internet in Japan, SoftBank launched Yahoo! BB, a comprehensive broadband commercial service using ADSL, in September 2001. The service was widely accepted with the name Yahoo! BB, offering twice the speed and about half the price of competitors’ offerings.

2004年7月 日本テレコム株式会社の株式を取得して子会社化、固定通信事業に参入

Acquired shares of JAPAN TELECOM CO., LTD and entered fixed-line telecommunications business

Acquired shares of JAPAN TELECOM CO., LTD and entered fixed-line telecommunications business. In addition to its fast-growing broadband service, SoftBank evolves into a telecommunications organization operating on fixed-line telecommunications networks and data communication services for corporate use, by acquiring 100% ownership of JAPAN TELECOM CO., LTD. (current SoftBank Corp.).

2004年12月 ソフトバンクグループの新CI（コーポレートアイデンティティー）による新しい企業ロゴマークを決定

SoftBank Group's new corporate identity

SoftBank Group's new corporate identity. The SoftBank Group introduces a new brand symbol comprised of double lines, based on the banner of Kaientai, a company led by Ryoma Sakamoto. The company later changed its brand color to shining silver.

Acquired shares of Fukuoka Daiei Hawks Corp.

Acquired shares of Fukuoka Daiei Hawks Corp. Following the completion of the transactions to acquire Fukuoka Daiei HAWKS, Fukuoka SoftBank HAWKS was born. With this entry into professional baseball, SoftBank’s profile rose significantly as the team’s owner company. Its corporate reputation and brand recognition were also enhanced.

2006-2014: モバイル

モバイル

Acquired Vodafone K.K. to enter mobile communications

Acquired Vodafone K.K. to enter mobile communications.

rebranded as SoftBank Mobile Corp. (current SoftBank Corp.) in October 2006.

2014-: AI・IoT・スマートロボティクス

AI・IoT・スマートロボティクス