Itoki Co., Ltd. was founded in Osaka in 1890 by the first Ito Yoshijuro, starting with Ito Yoshisho Store, and has continued to grow for over 130 years.
December 1, founding of Ito Yoshisho Store in Higashi-ku, Osaka
Itoki Co., Ltd. was founded in 1890 by the first Ito Kijuro in Osaka City, and has continued to grow for over 130 years.
Start of sales of mimeograph machines
Start of import and sale of Zipper Clips and Staplers
Established Kyushu Branch (Fukuoka)
Established Ito Yoshisho Store Workshop, started production of hand-held safes and simple office supplies
Started import and sale of typewriters and vacuum bottles
Launched Zeni Aiki (cash record and cash register)
Launched vent-type safes (manufactured at Tokyo Takeuchi Safe Store)
Great Kanto Earthquake
Established Sakai-suji Branch (now Osaka Showroom) in Higashi-ku, Osaka
Started sales of Toa Japanese-style typewriters
New factory established in Hirokoji, Higashi-ku, Osaka City
Start of manufacturing steel storage lockers, lockers, and in-house steel furniture
Start of radio sales
Completion of head office building in Hiranocho, Higashi-ku, Osaka City
Start of manufacturing office organization system "Aideks"
Reorganized into a corporation (capital 700,000 yen, about 60 employees)
Early steel desks, steel round chairs, and Aideks appeared as catalog items
Established Tokyo branch in Gofukubashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Work department separated and became Itoki Works Co., Ltd.
Established: 1950: April 20, Showa 25
Promoting Aideks card system (initial system development)
New storage and locker factory (Osaka City)
Start of terrestrial television broadcasting
Development and launch of lightweight safes
Introduction of Nichisho-type steel desks (paving the way for various desks later)
Relocated Tokyo branch to Ginza 1-chome
Tokyo Tower completed
Osaka branch building completed
First exhibition at the 5th Osaka International Fair
New factory for safes and fireproof safes (Osaka/Moriguchi City)
Itoki Works Co., Ltd. listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Introduction of new home furniture sales division (Home Furniture Department)
First participation in an overseas exhibition (JETRO-sponsored San Francisco Office Equipment Exhibition)
Announcement of home desks and student desks
Junior Desk (1962)
New desk factory establishment (Osaka)
Establishment of the first overseas sales agency (Malaya, Singapore)
Established Itoki System Laboratory
Itooki Shoten Co., Ltd. changed its company name to Itooki Co., Ltd.
Tokyo Olympics held
Established corporate motto "We of Itooki"
First Itooki Show held
Establishment of Itooki Toko Manufacturing Plant
Birth of the catchphrase "Good Design, Good System"
Kasumigaseki Building completed
New steel shelf and partition factory established (Kyoto)
Start of transition to new color "Human Brown"
Technical partnership with U.S. Supreme Company (Mobile Shelves)
Establishment of Itooki Service Co., Ltd. (now Itooki Osaka Construction Center) (interior office construction, office layout supervision)
Japan World Expo (Osaka Expo) Held
Steel house exhibited at Japan World Exposition Lifestyle Industry Pavilion
System Laboratory renamed Itooki General Research Institute
New cabinet factory establishment (Kyoto)
Technical alliance with Supreme Inc. (automatic electronic filing system)
Systema-Conserve, launch of storage-type movable racks
Technical alliance with Reflector Inc. (store display fixtures)
Inauguration of PR magazine "OFFICE REPORT"
FlexiWall FC (1971)
New factory for cabinet and mechatronic equipment (Shiga)
Systematorive (1972)
ITO Show held in Tokyo and Osaka. Theme: "New Office Planning Ideas"
Modulas launch
First Oil Shock
Acquisition of management rights of Fuji Living Industry Co., Ltd. (manufacture of meeting chairs and tables)
Inauguration of PR magazine "OFFICE LIFE"
Establishment of "Office Planning Center"
Office Planning Center completed in Shibuya, Tokyo
Freedom Chair (1975)
14 products selected for G-mark, highest scores in furniture and facility categories (Freedom Chair, Honey Line, Modulas, conference tables)
ProMighty (1976)
Technical alliance with Swiss Vibo, launch of research equipment furniture system
Second Oil Shock
Successful domestication of electronic control safe (ESCS)
Itoki Grand Show held (Tokyo, Sunshine City Cultural Center and 17 other venues)
Itoki Show (Tokyo, Sunshine City)
Technical alliance with Dutch Open Arc Company "Barter Chair"
G Mark Furniture Division Award for "ProMighty Electronic Lock System"
Barter Chair (1981)
Shinline Cabinet (1981)
Introduction of TQC (Total Quality Control)
Up to 38 points selected for G Mark products
Acquisition of management rights of Ueda Trading Co., Ltd. (Wholesale of household furniture, sale of nursing care products)
AutoRack (1982)
New chair factory established (Kyoto)
Publication of "Designing the Future of Office"
Establishment of Itoki Systems Singapore (Local subsidiary in Singapore)
Establishment of Itoki of America (I.O.A) (Local subsidiary in the United States)
Itoki Construction Center established
High Office Line (1984)
Introduction of Itoki CI System. Announced symbol mark, symbol logo, Japanese company name logo, corporate color, and new company flag at the founding ceremony
Enforcement of the Equal Employment Opportunity Law for Men and Women
Launch of office wear designed by Junko Koshino
New electronic equipment factory (Shiga)
Publication of "Filing System in Practice"
Holding of "ITOKI PRESENTATION '87"
Aya Ko Okamoto appointed as professional CF
Itoki Works Co., Ltd. transferred to the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange
Launch of PR magazines "Office Age" and "New Office Life"
G Mark Department Award (KARE Desk System)
First Itoki Classic held
Issuance of corporate bonds with US dollar-denominated new stock subscription rights
FG Panel (1988)
Biotable (1988)
Systema Streamer (1988)
Assort Line CR Desk (1988)
Introduction of consumption tax
Completion of Osaka New Office Gallery
Deming Award (Implementation Award)
100th Anniversary Celebration
Hosting of Kevin Roche Lecture for 100th Anniversary
Announcement of "Itoki New Color Program"
Exhibition at the international office furniture trade fair "OLGATEC"
Itoki Co., Ltd. is listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange Second Section
Itoki Hawaiian Ladies Open held
Chair Factory Completed (Shiga)
Itoki Koki Works Co., Ltd. changed its company name to Itoki Crevio Co., Ltd.
New Head Office Building Completed
Amelia Chair (1992)
Partnership with US Irwin Seating Company, start of import and sale of theater and stadium seats
Received TPM Excellence Award (Category 1)
Itoki Kogyo Center established (office interior construction, office layout supervision)
Free Access Floor LAF-S500 (1994)
Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
Publication of "Safety Office"
Vibration Test Room Installed
Launch of PR magazine "Corporate Design"
AeroMaster (1996)
CZ Desk (1996)
CZ Desk
FZ Panel
Kyoto Conference on Global Warming Prevention
Technical partnership with Waldner of Germany (Research Equipment)
Publication of "Office Cost Strategic Attack"
Product Management Department registered for ISO9001 certification
ISO9001 & 14001 registration (4 business divisions & 2 sites)
Shimasoobi Co., Ltd. acquires management rights (processing and sales of office furniture, office supplies, interior decorations / contracting of plumbing and electrical work)
Environmental Management Department registered for ISO14001 certification
Launch of PR magazine "Yudeco Style"
New panel factory established (Osaka)
Torino Chair
Comnet Table
Itoki Technical Service Co., Ltd. established (maintenance of various equipment and systems)
Formulation of "Itoki Environmental Policy"
Start of online shopping business
Company-wide registration for ISO14001
Completion of all business site registration for ISO9001
Momotaro
Company-wide registration for ISO14001
Establishment of Jinmeng (Suzhou) Commercial Equipment Co., Ltd. (now Novoworkstyle) (China joint venture)
Entry into nursing care and welfare business
Acquisition of management rights of Taimec Co., Ltd. (electric rotating storage / semiconductor equipment manufacturing)
Establishment of Itoki Marketplace (sales of store fixtures / store planning)
Eco-Branding Inc. Established
Exhibited at the International Office Furniture Fair "Olga Tech 2004"
Infuse
Glass Partition X
Itoki Kurebio Co., Ltd. merged with Itoki Co., Ltd. and renamed Itoki Co., Ltd.
New Shiga Logistics Center
ISO 14001 Certification (Comprehensive Manufacturing and Sales Certification)
Tashit Chair
Interlink
Good Design Gold Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) for "Spina Chair"
Itoki Thailand Co., Ltd. Established (Local subsidiary in Thailand)
Partnership with Orange Box Ltd. (UK), Launch of overseas sales of Spina Chair
Itoki Hokkaido Co., Ltd. Established (Sales of office equipment, fixtures, and supplies / Sales, design, and construction of store fixtures)
Good Design Gold Award (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award) for "LAN Sheet"
Itoki Design Inc. Established (U.S. subsidiary)
New Chiba Factory (Chiba)
Celebrating 120 Years of Business
Capital and Business Alliance with Dalton Co., Ltd.
Adopted in the Ministry of Environment's Carbon Offset Model Project
Energy-saving Comfortable Lighting System "Ectar" Selected for the 2011 Energy Conservation and Lighting Design Award (Hosted by the Ministry of Environment)
Spina's carbon offset project received the Excellence Award at the 1st Carbon Offset Awards
Itoki Tokyo Innovation Center SYNQA opened
Awarded a place in the Good Design Award Top 100 "Kakomi"
Shaw Contract Group 2013 Design is...Award Global Winner for "SYNQA"
3rd Health Longevity Extension Award
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Minister's Award, Excellence Award "Work Size"
Establishment of Itoki Modern Form Co., Ltd. (Thailand joint venture)
Awarded a place in the Good Design Award Top 100 "E Cabinet"
"Zeni Aiki" recognized as Japan Mechanical Heritage
Acquisition of Targas Interiors Inc. (Singapore) as a subsidiary
Flip Flap Chair (2016)
Establishment of Novo Workstyle Co., Ltd. (China)
Establishment of Knoll Japan Co., Ltd. (joint venture)
iF Design Award 2017 Gold Award / Red Dot Design Award 2017 for "Flip Flap Chair"
ITOKI TOKYO XORK opened
Establishment of Global Treehouse Inc.
WELL Certification Gold (Interior) obtained for ITOKI TOKYO XORK
Birth of Itoki original school bag "QNORQ"
Sequa Chair (2019)
QuA Chair (2019)
130th Anniversary of Founding
Issued a new integrated report
Olika Chair (2021)
Certified as a White 500 company for six consecutive years for health management excellence
CASBEE Smart Wellness Office Certification
Shiga Factory AP Center completed
torteU Chair (2022)
ITOKI WORK-Style Design Fukuoka Jisho Co., Ltd.'s Deep Tech Co‑Creation Hub "FIL.Tenjin". Designers discuss their passion for spatial design that brings together diverse ideas and sparks innovation.
In pursuit of a successful lunar exploration mission, ispace Inc. has established a new hub that consolidates research and development and mission operations functions. Ito-ki was responsible for concept development and the design and construction of the tenant areas, aiming for an office that expands the enthusiasm of employees.
ITOKI has renovated the 12th floor of its headquarters' working showroom, "ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE TOKYO", creating the first floor that combines accumulated office data and spatial design. The main concept is "team co-work", aiming to evolve team operations and maximize human capital.
ITOKI WORK-Style Design unveiled Mitsui Information's headquarters relocation project, realizing a new workplace through a design of 'space' that connects disparate elements.
ITOKI Workstyle NEXT 2026 will be held online from Wednesday, October 14, through Friday, October 16, 2026. Notable speakers including Kudo Kiyoyasu, Emika Owa, Takashi Saito, Minoru Hashimoto, and Junpei Oka will deliver keynote talks.
The Itoki factory in Omi-Hachiman City, Shiga Prefecture was renovated and designed as a hub that fosters "co-creation." It aims to be an "open manufacturing hub" where internal and external partners collaborate.
Itoki Corporation has unveiled 'ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE SENDAI,' a workplace model incorporating Tohoku's culture and scenery, proposing a future-oriented workplace for regional cities.
An online seminar introducing office examples and know-how supported by Itoki, providing tips for creating the optimal office.
Itoki was responsible for the overall direction and workspace of Epson Sales' corporate solution center "Epson XaILab," creating a space that leads from empathy to co-creation.
Ito Co., Ltd.'s ITOKI DESIGN HOUSE is a creative hub that designs the future of work.