Timeline of the Nippon Paint Group

Komyosha, the predecessor of the Nippon Paint Group, is founded in Mita, Tokyo, by Jujiro Moteki

Major Social and
Global Events

1881

An imperial edict is issued to establish the National Diet

1889

The Constitution of the Empire of Japan is promulgated

Operations move to a new plant in Minami-Shinagawa, Tokyo (now the Tokyo Office)

Nippon Paint Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is established

Hatsutaro Tasaka becomes the first President of the Company

Major Social and
Global Events

1894

The First Sino-Japanese War breaks out

1898

The Spanish-American War breaks out

Wins first prize at the Fifth National Industrial Exhibition, held to promote industrial development

Osaka Plant (now the Osaka Office) is completed

Major Social and
Global Events

1902

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance is signed

1904

The Russo-Japanese War breaks out

Succeeds in domestic production of ship hull coatings and launches the product

First overseas office is established in Shanghai

DuluxGroup is founded (Australia)

Bollig & Kemper (now Nippon Paint Automotive Europe) is founded (Germany)

Major Social and
Global Events

1912

Republic of China is established

1914

World War I breaks out

Dunn-Edwards is founded (USA)

Renamed Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.; paint factory is completed within the Osaka Plant

Imperial envoy visits the Osaka Plant

Major Social and
Global Events

1920

League of Nations is founded

1923

The Great Kanto Earthquake occurs

1929

New York Stock Exchange crashes, triggering a global economic crisis

The head office is relocated to Osaka

Nichiman Paint Co., Ltd. is established in Mukden, Manchuria

Major Social and
Global Events

1932

May 15 Incident occurs

1939

World War II breaks out

Nippon Paint Coatings (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. is established

Large parts of Tokyo Plant and Osaka Plant are destroyed in air raids

Osaka Plant is restored

Major Social and
Global Events

1941

Pacific War breaks out

1945

Pacific War ends

1946

Constitution of Japan is promulgated

“Pylox” spray paint for bus bodies and private railway car exteriors is launched

“Vinilex” vinyl-based ship hull coating is launched

New research institute is established at the head office in Osaka

Major Social and
Global Events

1950

Korean War breaks out

1951

San Francisco Peace Treaty and Japan-US Security Treaty are signed

1956

Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration

Pan Malaysia Paint Industries is jointly established in Singapore, marking the start of our NIPSEA (Nippon Paint Southeast Asia) business

A technology partnership is signed with PPG in the United States / Nippon Liner Co., Ltd. is established

Shinko Shoji Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd.) is established / Nippon Paint Thailand and Nippon Paint Malaysia are established

Research Center is completed in Neyagawa, Osaka

Tokyo Technology Center is completed / Nippon Paint Indonesia is established

Major Social and
Global Events

1963

Malaysia is formed

1964

The Tokyo Olympic Games are held

1965

Singapore gains independence

1967

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is established

1969

Apollo 11 lands on the moon

Participates in Japan World Exposition with a corporate pavilion

Nippon Bee Chemical Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Paint Automotive Coatings Co., Ltd.) and Nippon Paint International Co., Ltd. (now Nippon Paint Materials Co., Ltd.) are established

Nipsea Holdings International Limited, an overseas holding company, is established in Hong Kong

America Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. is established

Nippon Paint Philippines, Inc. is established

A technology partnership is signed with International Paint (UK), and a new ship hull paint is developed in 1978

Major Social and
Global Events

1970

The first Japan World Exposition (Osaka Expo) is hosted

1971

Nixon Shock occurs

1972

US-China Joint Communiqué is issued / Diplomatic relations between Japan and China are normalized

1973

First Oil Shock occurs

1979

Diplomatic relations between the United States and China are normalized / Second oil shock occurs

Meiji Memorial Hall opens in Minami-Shinagawa, Tokyo, marking our 100th anniversary

Okayama Plant is completed

Color Design Center is established, launching a proactive, design-led approach to color solutions

Nippon Paint Europe is founded in the United Kingdom as our regional headquarters in Europe

Major Social and
Global Events

1985

Plaza Accord is concluded

1987

Japanese National Railways is split and privatized, leading to the establishment of the regional JR Group companies

1989

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is inaugurated / The Berlin Wall falls

Nippon Paint (Thailand) Co., Ltd. establishes a new powder coating plant

Nippon Paint (China) Co., Ltd. is established

Fukuoka Plant is completed

Nippon Paint (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. and Nippon Paint (Guangdong) Co., Ltd. are established

Nippon Paint (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. and Nippon Paint (Chongqing) Co., Ltd. are established

Nippon Paint Industrial Coatings Co., Ltd. is established

Major Social and
Global Events

1991

Japan’s economic bubble bursts / The Gulf War breaks out

1993

The European Union (EU) is established

1995

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake occurs / Diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam are normalized

1997

The 3rd Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is held / The Kyoto Protocol is adopted

Nippon Paint Fine Coatings Co., Ltd. is established as a joint venture with Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Incorporated (now DIC Corporation) / Guangzhou Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. is established

Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd. receives a capital investment from the Wuthelam Group and embarks on global expansion under a new corporate structure

Nippon Paint (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. is established in China as a joint venture for the manufacture of decorative paints

NB Coatings, Inc. is established as our automotive coatings subsidiary in North America

NIPSEA Management Company is established and begins providing management oversight and strategic guidance to Group companies

Major Social and
Global Events

2001

The 9/11 terrorist attacks occur in the United States

2002

Euro banknotes and coins enter into circulation

2004

The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and tsunami occur

2005

Expo 2005 Aichi, Japan (the Aichi World Expo) is held under the theme “Nature’s Wisdom”

2008

The global financial crisis hits

The Company transitions to a holding company structure and is renamed Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd., with the paint and coatings business transferred to the newly established Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. A strategic partnership is formed with the Wuthelam Group, and eight joint ventures and 38 affiliated companies are brought into the Group as consolidated subsidiaries

Nippon Paint Co., Ltd. is split into four companies by business segment, and domestic subsidiaries and related companies associated with each business are integrated through mergers and other restructuring measures

Bollig & Kemper (Germany) becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary

Dunn-Edwards (USA) becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary

Betek Boya (Türkiye) and DuluxGroup (Australia) join the Group

Major Social and
Global Events

2011

The Great East Japan Earthquake occurs / Large-scale flooding occurs in Thailand

2015

The 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is held / The Paris Agreement is adopted

2017

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is adopted at the United Nations

2018

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trance-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) enters into force

Full integration of the Asia joint ventures with the Wuthelam Group is completed / Nippon Paint Corporate Solutions Co., Ltd. is newly established

Cromology (France) and JUB (Slovenia) are acquired

Alina (Kazakhstan) joins the Group

AOC (USA) joins the Group

Major Social and
Global Events

2020

COVID-19 spreads worldwide

2021

The Tokyo Olympic Games are held

2022

Russia invades Ukraine

2024

The Noto Peninsula Earthquake occurs

2025

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is held