Our history
''Ploom X ADVANCED'' and ''With2'' are launched in Japan
JT starts one operating model by combining Japanese-domestic and International tobacco business
''Ploom X'' is launched in Japan
JT completed the relocation of its head office to Kamiyacho Trust Tower (1-1, Toranomon 4-chome, Minato-ku) from JT Building (2-1, Toranomon 2-chome, Minato-ku).
"Ploom S 2.0" and "Ploom TECH+ with" are launched
Launch of novel treatments for atopic dermatitis "CORECTIM® Ointment 0.5%" and for anemia associated with chronic kidney disease "ENAROY® tablets 2mg・4mg" in Japan.
"Ploom TECH+" and "Ploom S" are launched
Acquisiton of Akij Group's Tobacco Business in Bangladesh.
Acquisition of Russia's JSC Donskoy Tabak Company.
Completes the acquisition of assets related to the tobacco business of Mighty Corporation in the Philippines.
Completes the share transfer of Indonesian kretek cigarette company PT. Karyadibya Mahardhika and its distributor PT. Surya Mustika Nusantara.
Additional share purchase from the Ethiopian government of approximately 30% of the total shares in National Tobacco Enterprise S.C to become majority shareholder with over 70% of the shares.
Acquisition of Natural American Spirit Business outside the United States
"Ploom TECH" is launched
Launch of a novel anti-HIV drug "Genvoya® Combination Tablets" in Japan.
Acquisition of 40 percent shares of National Tobacco Enterprise Ethiopia S.C (NTE).
Acquisition of leading US e-cigarette company Logic.
Transfer of shares of JT's subsidiaries conducting vending machine operation business and JT beverage brands "Roots" and "Momono Tennensui". Withdrawal from the Manufacture and Sale of JT Beverage Products on September 2015. Abolishment of JT's beverage business division on Deccember.
Integration of "Cabin" and "Caster" with "Winston"
Acquisition of Iranian Tobacco company Arian Tobacco Industries
Launch of "Cedatoren sublingual drop Japanese Ceder Pollen," a sublingual Immunotherapy Drug for Japanese Ceder Pollinosis.
JT acquires Zandera ltd., a leader in e-cigarettes and best known for its E-Lites brand.
Mild Seven changes name to MEVIUS in Japan
The Government releases the fourth tranche of outstanding JT shares (253,261,800 shares offered).
Acquisition of Al Nakhla Tobacco Company S.A.E. and Al Nakhla Tobacco Company - Free Zone S.A.E., a leading Egyptian water-pipe company
Launch of "Stribild Combination Tablets" in Japan
Launch of a novel anti-HIV drug "Stribild Combination Tablets" in Japan, containing our original compound (elvitegravir).
JT acquires a 20% stake in Megapolis Distribution B.V., a leading Russian distribution company.
For the purpose of enlarging the Company's investor base, a 200-for-1 stock-split is conducted. At the same time, JT adopts the share unit system, setting the share trading unit at 100 shares.
Acquisition of Gryson NV, a Belgium Fine Cut maker
Acquisition of Haggar Cigarette & Tobacco Factory Ltd.
In North Sudan and South Sudan
Katokichi Co., Ltd. is renamed TableMark Co., Ltd.
Smokeless tobacco product Zerostyle Mint is launched.
JTI embarks on vertical internationalization into the tobacco leaf supply chain
JTI Leaf Services (U.S.) LLC was established in June and acquired leaf suppliers Kannenberg & Cia. Ltda. (Brazil) and Kannenberg, Barker, Hail & Cotton Tabacos Ltda. (Brazil) in October. Acquisition of leaf supplier Tribac Leaf Limited (UK) in November.
JT acquires a majority stake in Katokichi CO., Ltd. and Fuji Foods Corporation
After the acquisition of Katokichi CO., Ltd. and Fuji Foods Corporation, JT concentrates its processed food operations, including frozen food and seasonings operations, at the Katokichi Group.
JT acquires all outstanding shares of Gallaher Group Plc.
JT significantly strengthened the international tobacco business by acquiring Gallaher in 2007 and RJR Nabisco's non-U.S. tobacco operations in 1999.
JT implements a five-for-one stock split in order to expand the investor base, effective April 1, 2006 in May.
Acquisition of AD Duvanska Industrija Senta in Serbia.
JT terminates a licensing contract under which it had exclusive rights to produce and sell Marlboro brand products in Japan and use the Marlboro trademark in the country.
Acquisition of CRES Neva Ltd. (Russia).
In June, the Government releases the third tranche of outstanding JT shares (289,334 shares offered at ¥843,000 apiece), reducing its stake in JT to the minimum level allowed under law.
Acquisition of Austria Tabak.*
* Topics of Gallaher before participating in the JT Group
Acquisition of Liggett-Ducat (Russia).*
* Topics of Gallaher before participating in the JT Group
JT acquires the non-U.S. tobacco business of RJR Nabisco Inc. and JTI is founded
Amid the increasingly difficult operating environment for the Japanese domestic tobacco business, JT took additional rationalization steps, pursued consolidation of operations in its areas of business diversification and expanded the international tobacco business, thereby strengthening its business foundation.
JT acquires the food business of Asahi Kasei Corporation
This acquisition included Asahi Foods and seven other subsidiaries.
JT signs an agreement with Unimat Corporation
JT later acquired a majority stake in Unimat (currently, Japan Beverage Holdings Inc.) in a tie-up regarding beverage business.
JT acquires a majority stake in Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
In the next year (1999), under the business tie-up between JT and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. the two companies' R&D operations related to medical pharmaceuticals were concentrated at JT, while their promotion operations were combined at Torii Pharmaceutical.
JT ends its salt monopoly business in line with the abolition of the salt monopoly system.
The Tobacco Mutual Aid Pension scheme is integrated into the Employees' Pension scheme.
In June, the Government releases the second tranche of outstanding JT shares (272,390 shares offered at ¥815,000 apiece).
JT stock is listed on the stock exchanges in various places in Japan
In October, the Government released the first tranche of outstanding JT shares for initial public offering (394,276 shares offered at ¥1,438,000 apiece).
JT stock is listed on the first sections of the stock exchanges in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya.
In November, JT stock is listed in Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Niigata and Sapporo.
The Central Pharmaceutical Research Institute is established to enhance in-house research capabilities.
JT communication name is introduced
Import tariffs on imported cigarettes are abolished.
Japan Tobacco Inc. is established
JT was founded as an entity that took over the whole of the business operations and assets of JTS.
(Japanese tobacco market opened to foreign tobacco manufacturers).
The Business Development Division is established to promote new businesses
The Business Development Division is later reorganized into operational divisions engaged in the food and pharmaceutical businesses, finishing in July 1990.
Japan Tobacco Inc. Act is enacted
In 1982, the Japanese Government conducted a comprehensive review of the public corporation system and drafted bills to:
*Abolish the tobacco monopoly law to liberalize tobacco imports and establish a tobacco business law to make necessary adjustments
related to the tobacco business.
*Abolish the JTS law, reorganize JTS as a joint stock corporation so as to enable it to pursue rational corporate management as much as possible and establish the Japan Tobacco Inc. Act, which provides for a necessary
minimum level of regulation in light of the corporation's need to compete with foreign tobacco companies on an equal footing in the domestic market following the liberalization of tobacco imports.
These bills were enacted in 1984.
Mild Seven is launched internationally.
Mild Seven is launched (Japan).
Seven Stars is launched, featuring Japan's first domestically produced charcoal filter.
Gallaher is acquired by the American Tobacco Company.
Silk Cut is launched.
HOPE (10) is launched as Japan's first domestically produced filter cigarette.
Salem is launched.
Benson & Hedges is acquired by Gallaher.
Winston is launched.
The Monopoly Bureau becomes the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation
June 1, 1949, the bureau was established and duly named the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation, or JTS. This corporation helped to ensure the stable supply of tobacco and secure fiscal revenues for the Government.
Cellophane is introduced by RJR in order to preserve the freshness of tobacco.
Camel is launched.
The Japanese Monopoly Bureau is established for the sale of domestic leaf tobacco
The Government formed a monopoly bureau to undertake the exclusive sale of domestic leaf tobacco.
The Moscow-based Ducat factory is founded.
Sobranie is registered in London, to become one of the oldest cigarette brands in the world.
RJR is founded by Richard Joshua Reynolds in Winston, North Carolina
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (RJR), which would subsequently create the Camel and Winston brands, was established in the U.S.
Tom Gallaher sets up his business in Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Tom Gallaher started out in business in Northern Ireland, laying the foundations for the Gallaher Group.
Austria Tabak is founded by Emperor Joseph II
The JT Group's overseas history began with the founding of Austria Tabak in Vienna.