Chronology
1910 - 1929
1912Founder, Tokuji Hayakawa, invents the Tokubijo snap buckle and acquires utility model design patent
Establishes metalworking shop in Matsui-cho, Honjo-ku, Tokyo (now Shin-ohashi, Koto-ku, Tokyo) on September 15
1914Moves to Hayashi-cho, Honjo-ku, Tokyo (now Tachikawa, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
Installs one-horsepower electric motor
1915Invents Hayakawa Mechanical Pencil and begins export to the US and Europe
Establishes Hayakawa Brothers Shokai
1920Establishes branch factory in Oshiage, Tokyo (now Yahiro, Sumida-ku, Tokyo)
1923All factories destroyed during Great Kanto Earthquake
Dissolves Hayakawa Brothers Shokai and relocates to Osaka
1924Establishes Hayakawa Metal Works in Tanabe-cho, Higashinari-gun, Osaka Prefecture (now the location of the Head Office)
1925Succeeds in assembling first Japan-made crystal radio set; begins mass production and sales
Establishes sales office in Utsubo, Osaka
1926Begins export of radio sets and components to China, Southeast Asia, India, and South America
Establishes Tokyo office in Hayashi-cho (Honjo-ku, Tokyo), a former site of the company's factory
Adopts assembly-line production for radios
1927Holds Sharp radio trade fairs in Kyushu, Japan and Shanghai, China
1929Releases AC vacuum-tube radios
1930 - 1949
1930Hayakawa tours Hong Kong
Begins attaching repair notices to radios. Retailers would notify the company of repairs they did by sending back these notices to the company.
1931Establishes sales agency in Hong Kong
1934Establishes Shanghai office
Constructs Hirano Plant in Osaka
1935Hayakawa Metal Works Institute Co. incorporated with capital of 300,000 yen (May 1)
Youths' School Ordinance issued in Japan
1936Installs intermittent belt conveyor system
Makes Yokohama Motor Parts Manufacturing a subsidiary
Changes company name to Hayakawa Metal Works Co.
Establishes branch offices in Taipei and Seoul
1937Establishes Hayakawa Commercial School for Youth
1942Changes company name to Hayakawa Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
1943Head office building completed
1944Establishes Hayakawa Electric branch factory
Establishes Izumi Plant in Izumi-cho (now Izumi City), Osaka (sold in 1948)
1945Establishes Kyoto Plant in Shimogyo-ku (now Minami-ku), Kyoto (sold in 1947)
1946Forms labor union
Designated special accounting company
1948Establishes Sharp Shoji
1949Released from special accounting company designation
Public stock offering, company listed on Osaka Securities Exchange
1950 - 1959
1950Plant to employ the visually impaired incorporated as Tokusen Metal Limited Partnership
Establishes business principles called the Five Accumulations of Competency
1951Successfully develops prototype TV set
1952Begins publication of Sharp News, an information magazine for retailers
Special bus begins touring the country to advertise Sharp radios and TVs
Signs cooperative agreement with RCA of the US for TV technology
Forms Sharp Friends Club to strengthen ties between dealers, retailers, and the company
1953Begins full-scale mass production of first Japan-made TV sets (TV3-14T)
1954Constructs TV plant at the head office (now Tanabe Plant, Osaka) and installs endless conveyor system
Opens Ikutoku-en nursery school
1955Formulates in-house standards (HS: Hayakawa Standards)
1956Spins off sales division to establish Sharp Electric Co.
Constructs new building for Osaka Head Office
Constructs new building for Tokyo Branch in Taito-ku, Tokyo
1957Establishes Tokyo Sharp Geppan to sell Sharp products on monthly installment system; Sharp Geppan companies subsequently established nationwide
Constructs Hirano Plant No. 2 in Higashi-sumiyoshi-ku (now Hirano-ku), Osaka
Releases transistor radios
Establishes laboratory
1958Begins publication of Mado, an in-house magazine
Sharp Electric merges with Hayakawa Dengyo, a company that sold fluorescent lighting
Sharp Shoji and QRK Shokai (exclusive Sharp dealer) combined to form Osaka Sharp Sales (regional sales companies subsequently established)
Institutes Sharp Friend Shop system; Sharp Friend Shop Associations formed nationwide
1959Begins R&D on solar cells
Constructs Yao Plant as company moves to become a comprehensive consumer electronics manufacturer
Expands sales network in Southeast Asia by signing dealer agreements with Sampo Electronics and Roxy Electric
1960 - 1969
1960Constructs Yamato-koriyama Plant No. 1 (now Nara Plant)
Establishes corporate health insurance association
Introduces IBM computer at the head office
1961Establishes Central Research Laboratories
1962Establishes Sharp Electronics Corporation (SEC) in the US, the company's first overseas sales base
Begins mass production of commercial-use microwave ovens (R-10)
Osaka Municipal Hayakawa Welfare Hall completed with construction funds donated by President Hayakawa
Builds shrine on Mt. Koya for holding Buddhist memorial services for deceased employees
1963Establishes service company in Osaka
Company reorganized into three divisions: radio, home appliances, and industrial equipment
Establishes Sharp Tokyo Product Center
1964Release world's first all-transistor diode electronic desktop calculator (CS-10A) as company moves to become a comprehensive electronics manufacturer
Builds mass-production line for solar cells
1965Institutes 70 Strategy to strengthen distribution system
Launches ATOM Unit program
1966Releases home-use microwave oven with a turntable (R-600)
1967Launches 55 Campaign that included Sharp technology fairs to celebrate 55th anniversary of company's founding
Constructs Hiroshima Plant to mass produce transistor radios
Sharp Electric absorbed into Hayakawa Electric
Sharp Electronic Sales Okinawa Corporation established in Okinawa, then under US rule
1968Establishes Hayakawa Electric Europe GmbH (HEEG) (name changed to Sharp Electronics [Europe] GmbH [SEEG] in 1970) as sales base in West Germany
Holds first Basic Management Policy Conference
Constructs Tochigi Plant to mass produce color TVs
Establishes Business Cooperation Centers nationwide
1969Launches MI campaign
Signs cooperative technical agreement with North American Rockwell Corporation on ICs
Osaka Municipal Abeno Youth Center completed with construction funds donated by President Hayakawa
Establishes office equipment sales companies in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya
Establishes Sharp Electronics (U.K.) Ltd. (SUK) as sales base in the UK
Develops world's first GND (gallium arsenic negative-resistance light-emitting diode) semiconductor
Releases world's first electronic calculator incorporating MOS LSIs (QT-8D)
1970 - 1979
1970Changes company name to Sharp Corporation
Establishes Sharp Precision Machinery Co., Ltd. (name changed to Sharp Manufacturing Systems Corporation in 1994)
Senior Executive Director Akira Saeki named president, President Tokuji Hayakawa named chairman
Constructs Advanced Development and Planning Center
Implements business group system
Releases gallium arsenide double LED
1971Establishes Sharp Corporation of Australia Pty. Ltd. (SCA) as sales base in Australia
Awarded the 1970 Okochi Memorial Production Prize for incorporating ELSIs in calculators
1972Releases company's first copier
Launches new sales company system (regional sales companies consolidated into 16 companies by region)
Launches S734 Project for developing COS calculators
Adds Sharp Grand Award to annual employee commendation
Opens Consumer Information Centers at nine service companies throughout Japan
Establishes Sharp System Products Co., Ltd.
Forms Sharp Employee Stockholder Association
1973Establishes Business Philosophy, Business Creed, and Basic Business Principles
Sets up employee savings scheme
Establishes Sharp Data Corporation (SDA) (name changed to Sharp Korea Corporation [SKC] in 1984) as manufacturing base in Korea
Begins production of CMOS LSIs; releases pocket-sized COS calculator with LCD
1974Holds first company-wide QC circle convention
Constructs former Sharp Tokyo Building (Sharp Tokyo Ichigaya Building)
Establishes Sharp Electronics of Canada Ltd. (SECL) as sales base in Canada
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRC) as manufacturing base in Malaysia (name changed to S&O Electronics [Malaysia] Sdn. Bhd. [SOEM] in 2008)
Launches ELM products
Formulates company-wide quality standards (SS: Sharp Corporation Standards)
1975Begins mass production of color TVs at SCA in Australia
1976Launches New Life product strategy
Sharp solar cells installed on Ume, Japan's first operational ionosphere-observing satellite
1977Establishes Sharp System Service
Launches Special Project Team system
Tokusen Metal Limited Partnership certified as special subsidiary of Sharp Corporation
1978Installs automated production line for the complete fabrication of calculators (awarded the Okochi Memorial Production Prize in 1981)
1979Establishes Sharp Electronics (Svenska) AB (SES) (name changed to Sharp Electronics [Nordic] AB [SEN] in 2000) as sales base in Sweden
Sharp Manufacturing Company of America (SMCA) starts operations as production division of SEC
Establishes SBC Software
1980 - 1989
1980Announces one-trillion yen initiative
Forms Sharp Fellowship Society
Launches New Business product strategy under a "new business style" concept
Chairman Tokuji Hayakawa passes away
Establishes Sharp Business Co., Ltd.
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Electronics Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SREC) as manufacturing base in Malaysia (merged into SMM in 2009)
1981Establishes Sharp Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
Constructs Shinjo Plant (now Katsuragi Plant) in Nara
Constructs mass-production plant for EL displays (starts full-scale operations in 1983)
Develops laser diode with VSIS architecture
1982Establishes Sharp (Phils.) Corporation (SPC) as manufacturing base in the Philippines
Establishes Sharp Finance Corporation
Establishes Sharp-ECD Solar Co., Ltd. as joint venture with Energy Conversion Devices Inc. of the US
Sharp multinet system goes online
Tokusen Metal Limited Partnership reorganized into Sharp Tokusen Industry Co.
1983Establishes Sharp Engineering Corporation
EL displays installed on the Space Shuttle
1985Sharp Manufacturing Company of U.K. (SUKM) starts operations as production division of SUK
Holds comprehensive technology exhibitions in Beijing and Shanghai
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Appliances Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRAC) as manufacturing base in Malaysia (ceases operations in 2002)
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRSSC) as sales base in Malaysia
Establishes Creative Lifestyle Focus Center
Constructs Fukuyama Plant
Establishes Sharp Trading Corporation
Builds prototype of 3-inch color LCD TV
1986Builds "futuristic electric house" on the grounds of Yao Plant
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Schweiz) AG (SEZ) as sales base in Switzerland
Establishes Sharp Electronics GmbH (SEA) as sales base in Austria (merges with SEEG in 2004 to become SEEG Austria Branch)
Establishes Sharp-Roxy Sales (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (SRS) as sales base in Singapore
Establishes Sharp Electrónica España S.A. (SEES) as manufacturing and sales base in Spain (ceases manufacturing in 2011)
Senior Executive Director Haruo Tsuji named president, President Akira Saeki named chairman
Establishes Sharp Electronics Taiwan Co., Ltd. (SET) as manufacturing base in Taiwan (liquidated in 2010)
Launches Liquid Crystal Display Division
1987Establishes Sharp Electronics Sales Corporation
Establishes Sharp Appliances (Thailand) Limited (SATL) as manufacturing base in Thailand
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (SESL) as kit export base in Singapore
Chairman Akira Saeki appointed as corporate advisor
Establishes Sharp-Roxy (Hong Kong) Ltd. (SRH) as sales base in Hong Kong
1988The Sharp Columbus, a promotional event boat, cruises the waters of Japan for 18 months
Establishes Sharp Corporation of New Zealand Ltd. (SCNZ) as sales base in New Zealand
Establishes Sharp Precision Manufacturing (U.K.) Ltd. (SPM) as manufacturing base in the UK (liquidated in 2010)
Introduces in-house recruiting system
Develops hologram laser unit jointly with Philips International B.V. of the Netherlands
Proclaims goal of becoming comprehensive electronics manufacturer on the strength of its optoelectronics technologies
Develops 14-inch color TFT LCD
1989Establishes Sharp Manufacturing France S.A. (SMF) as manufacturing base in France
Establishes Sharp Thebnakorn Co., Ltd. (STCL) as sales base in Thailand (name changed to Sharp Thai Co., Ltd. [STCL] in 2007)
Establishes Kalyani Sharp India Limited (KSIL) as manufacturing base in India (name changed to Sharp India Limited [SIL] in 2005)
Establishes Sharp Manufacturing Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SMM) as manufacturing base in Malaysia
1990 - 1999
1990Establishes Sharp Corporation (Taiwan) (SCOT) as sales base in Taiwan
Establishes Sharp Laboratories of Europe, Ltd. (SLE) as base to conduct basic research in the UK
Launches Liquid Crystal Display Group
SUKM receives the UK Queen's Award for Export and Technology
Establishes Sharp International Finance (U.K.) Plc. (SIF) as financial subsidiary in the UK
Establishes Sharp Burotype Machines S.A. (SBM) as sales base in France (name changed to Sharp Electronics France S.A. [SEF] in 1991)
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Italia) S.p.A. (SEIS) as sales base in Italy
Company-wide small-group activities renamed Sharp CATS (Creative Action Teams)
Establishes childcare leave system
Achieves non-consolidated net sales of 1 trillion yen (fiscal 1989)
1991Establishes Sharp Electronics Benelux B.V. as sales base in the Netherlands
Begins production at color TFT LCD plant (NF-1 production line) at Advanced Development and Planning Center
1992Establishes Sharp Electronic Components (Taiwan) Corporation (SECT) as electronic components sales base, and Sharp Technology (Taiwan) Co., Ltd. (STT) as IC design and development base (STT liquidated in 2007)
Ties up with Intel Corporation in flash memory business
Establishes Sharp Live Electronics Sales Corporation
Establishes Shanghai Sharp Air-Conditioning Systems Co., Ltd. (SSAC) as manufacturing base in China (name changed to Shanghai Sharp Electronics Co., Ltd. [SSEC] in 1994)
Constructs Makuhari Building
Establishes Sharp Thebnakorn Manufacturing (Thailand) (STTM) as production division of STCL
1993Begins production at Fukuyama Plant using 0.6 μm process design rules
Establishes Sharp Office Equipments (Changshu) Co., Ltd. (SOCC) as manufacturing base in China
1994Develops industry's first reflective TFT LCD requiring no backlight
Establishes Wuxi Sharp Electronic Components Co., Ltd. (WSEC) as manufacturing base in China
Establishes P.T. Sharp Yasonta Indonesia (SYI) as manufacturing base, and P.T. Sharp Yasonta Antarnusa (SYA) as sales base in Indonesia (the two merged to form P.T. Sharp Electronics Indonesia [SEID] in 2005)
1995Establishes Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc. (SLA) as research base in the US
Establishes P.T. Sharp Semiconductor Indonesia (SSI) as manufacturing base for semiconductors in Indonesia
Begins operations at Mie Plant for mass production of LCDs
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (SEM) as combined R&D base and parts supplier in Malaysia
1996Establishes Nanjing Sharp Electronics Co., Ltd. (NSEC) as manufacturing base in China
Official Sharp Internet website opens
1997All Sharp production bases in Japan certified for ISO 14001
Establishes Shanghai Sharp Mold and Manufacturing Systems Co., Ltd. (SSMC) as manufacturing base in China
Establishes Sharp Electrónica Mexico S.A. de C.V. (SEMEX) as manufacturing base in Mexico
Launches Environmental Protection Group and starts 3G-1R Strategy
Introduces integrated distribution system in Japan
1998Establishes Sharp Middle East Free Zone Establishment (SMEF) as sales base in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Jointly develops world's first CG-Silicon (continuous grain silicon) technology with Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
Develops and begins mass production of world’s first stacked CSP (chip size package)
Establishes Sharp Document Systems Corporation and Sharp Amenity Systems Corporation
Corporate Senior Executive Director Katsuhiko Machida named president, President Haruo Tsuji named corporate advisor
Formulates Sharp Business Standards and Action Guidelines
Establishes Sharp Electronics Marketing Corporation
President Machida declares that by 2005 all TVs Sharp sells in Japan will be LCD TVs
1999Launches Sharp Space Town information service
Develops 1-bit amplifier technology for reproducing ultra high-fidelity sound
Establishes Sharp Electronics Inc. of Korea (SEI) as sales base in Korea
Establishes Sharp Software Development India Pvt. Ltd. (SSDI) as software development company in India
Publishes first Environmental Report
2000 - 2009
2000Launches advertising campaign for AQUOS, calling it a TV for the 21st century
Establishes Sharp Microelectronics of China (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (SMC) as sales base in China (name changed to Sharp Electronics [Shanghai] Co., Ltd. [SES] in 2003)
Establishes Sharp Business Systems (India) Limited (SBI) as sales base in India
Becomes world's largest manufacturer of solar cells. Maintains this position for seven consecutive years, until 2006
2001Releases TVs with Advanced Super View LCD
Establishes S.I. Solutions jointly with IBM Japan
Kansai Recycling Systems Co., Ltd. starts operations (established in 1999)
Establishes Sharp Telecommunications of Europe, Ltd. (STE) as mobile telecommunications development base in the UK
Establishes usability labs
Establishes Comprehensive Call Centers (Customer Assistance Centers) for handling customer inquiries
Establishes BRM (business risk management) Committee
2002Ties up with El-Araby Group for air conditioning business in Egypt
Operations begin at Mihara Plant
Develops 3D LCD that can be switched between 2D and 3D formats
2003Revises Sharp Business Standards and Action Guidelines; enacts Sharp Charter of Corporate Behavior
Launches Sharp Green Club (SGC)
SEMEX in Mexico begins production of AQUOS LCD TVs
Establishes consumer electronics R&D center in China
Constructs Mie Plant No. 3 to manufacture System LCDs
Changes name of small-group activities to R-CATS and starts unique activities
Establishes CSR Promotion Division
Develops reflective/transmissive Mobile Advanced Super View LCD
2004Starts eS-SEM strategic management system
Operations begin at Kameyama Plant
Establishes Sharp Technical Components (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. as manufacturing base in China
Opens AQUOS Plaza sites in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka for the repair of large-screen AQUOS LCD TVs
Announces environmental vision of becoming a zero global warming impact company by 2010 (achieved in 2008)
2005Takes part in Team Minus 6%, Cool Biz, and Warm Biz, three initiatives of Japan's Ministry of the Environment
Establishes Sharp Electronics Sales (China) Co., Ltd. (SESC) as sales base in China
Launches Sharp Yonago Corporation
Establishes Sharp Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (SMTL) as manufacturing base in Thailand (reorganization of STTM)
Establishes Sharp Group Charter of Corporate Behavior and Sharp Code of Conduct
Electronic calculators recognized as IEEE Milestone
2006Establishes Sharp Manufacturing Poland Sp. z o.o. (SMPL) as manufacturing base in Poland
Kameyama Plant wins the Economy, Trade and Industry Minister’s Prize in the 8th Japan Water Award
Teams up with NPO Weathercaster Network to begin eco-education in elementary schools in Japan
2007Corporate Senior Executive Director Mikio Katayama named president; President Katsuhiko Machida named chairman
Establishes Sharp Electronics Russia LLC (SER) as sales base in Russia
SEEG split into three separate entities for consumer electronics, information products, and solar power systems
Establishes Toyama Plant to manufacture silicon for solar cells
2008Introduces executive officer system
Establishes Health and Environment Systems Group
Sharp Corporation attains Privacy Mark certification
Announces goal of becoming a total solutions provider for solar power
2009Establishes Sharp Electronics (Vietnam) Company Limited (SVN) as sales base in Vietnam
Announces new environmental vision of becoming an Eco-Positive Company
Starts production of LCD panels at Green Front Sakai
2010 - 2019
2010Akira Saeki, corporate senior advisor and former president, passes away
Develops high-conversion-efficiency solar cells
Starts production of solar cells at Green Front Sakai
Solar cell business recognized as IEEE Milestone
Establishes Sharp Corporation Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (SCMEX) as sales base in Mexico
Establishes Enel Green Power & Sharp Solar Energy S.r.l. (ESSE) as independent power producer in Italy
Establishes 3 Sun S.r.l. as manufacturing base in Italy
Establishes Sharp Electronics Research & Development (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. (SERD) as design and development base in China
Acquires Recurrent Energy, LLC, a US developer of solar power plants
2011Establishes Sharp Laboratories of China Co., Ltd. (SLC) as R&D base in China
Establishes Sharp Solar Maintenance Asia Co., Ltd. (SSMA) as maintenance company for solar power plants in Thailand
Establishes Sharp Brasil Comércio e Distribuição de Artigos Eletrônicos Ltda. (SBCD) as sales base in Brazil
Establishes Sharp (China) Investment Co., Ltd. (SCIC) as Chinese headquarters
2012Executive Managing Officer Takashi Okuda named president; President Mikio Katayama named chairman
Announces strategic global partnership with Hon Hai Group of Taiwan, a major electronic manufacturing service company
Starts mass production of LCD panels using IGZO (oxide semiconductor) technology
Establishes Sharp Electronics (Europe) Limited (SEE) as European headquarters in the UK
Moves Tokyo Branch (at the time) to Seavans South Building (Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Celebrates 100th anniversary of company founding
2013Reorganizes Japanese domestic sales companies: establishes Sharp Business Solutions Corporation (SBS) to handle B2B sales; changes name of solar energy-related sales company to Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ)
Strengthens alliance with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. in LCD business and forms capital alliance with its Japanese subsidiary Samsung Electronics Japan Co., Ltd.
Starts production of IGZO LCD panels for notebook PCs
Construction completed on solar power plant in Thailand
Executive Vice President Kozo Takashi named president; Takashi Okuda named chairman
Starts operations of new home appliance plant in Karawang, Indonesia
Enters into business and capital tie-ups with Denso Corporation, Makita Corporation, and Lixil Corporation and issues new shares through third-party allotment with the three companies
Increases capital through public stock offering
Cumulative sales of products with Sharp’s proprietary Plasmacluster air purification technology reach 50 million units worldwide
201450th anniversary since releasing the first calculator in Japan
Develops Free-Form Display that enables the creation of new display designs to match a variety of applications
14-Inch TFT-LCD Recognized as IEEE Milestone
2015Representative Director and Executive Vice President Shigeaki Mizushima named chairman
Issuance of Class Shares by third party allotment to Mizuho Bank Ltd., The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. Ltd., and Japan Industrial Solutions
New FFD (Free Form Display) technology developed allowing designers to integrate a display of virtually any shape into their products
Releases 8K video monitor, world’s first product that conforms to the 8K standard image and supports HDR extended display at 8K resolution
2016Announces strategic alliance with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
Releases RoBoHoN, world’s first mobile robotic phone capable of walking on two legs
Reassignment to 2nd Section from 1st Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
Head office relocated from Osaka City (22-22, Nagaike-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City) to Sakai City (1 Takumi-cho, Sakai-ku, Sakai City)
Sharp's shares of 388.8 billion yen in total subscribed to Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. and 3 others
J.W. Tai (Executive V.P. of Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.) named president
Plasmacluster technology proven for the first time ever to reduce the risk of tuberculosis infection in tuberculosis hospitals
Establishes Sharp Jusda Logistics Corporation (SJL) and consolidates logistics-related businesses
Establishes ScienBiziP Japan Co., Ltd. (SBPJ) for handling intellectual property affairs
Announces new corporate motto “Be Original.”
2017Merges with Sharp Manufacturing Systems Corporation (SMS), which handles production equipment, control devices, and medical-related equipment
Establishes Sharp Universal Technology (SZ) Co., Ltd. (SUT) for overseeing Sharp’s Chinese business; also establishes consumer electronics R&D center at SUT
Acquires shares of Skytec UMC Ltd. to relaunch LCD TV business in Europe
Plasmacluster recognized by the Guinness World Records® as the best-selling air purifier brand of 2015
Releases cooler bags and other products that make use of cold-storage material created at Tekion Lab, Sharp’s first in-house startup
Introduces stock option system
Transitions from a company with an audit and supervisory board to a company with an audit and supervisory committee
Changes unit of shares (trading unit) of common shares from 1,000 to 100 shares (consolidates shares 10-to-1)
Reorganizes Japanese domestic sales and service companies and merges them into Sharp Business Solutions Corporation (SBS); changes name to Sharp Marketing Japan Corporation (SMJ)
Releases world’s first 8K-compatible LCD TV in China in October and in Japan in December
Sharp Corporation’s common shares relisted on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
2018Signs sponsorship agreement with professional soccer team Cerezo Osaka
Acquires Kantatsu Co., Ltd., a company that has its strengths in micro-lens units for smartphone cameras
Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ) takes over a portion of Sharp Corporation’s energy solutions business
For the first time in a decade, Sharp records profits for all four quarters in fiscal 2017; business recovery allows Sharp to pay dividends for the first time in six years
Sharp Energy Solutions (SESJ) receives orders for and constructs mega solar power plants in Vietnam, Mongolia, and Indonesia
Acquires Toshiba Client Solutions Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation that handles Dynabook brand PCs
Starts mass production of OLED displays at the Sakai Plant and Mie (Taki) Plant
Releases string of 8K products, including the world’s first 8K tuner capable of receiving new 4K8K satellite broadcasts, an AQUOS 8K LCD TV with built-in 8K tuner, and an 8K-compatible USB hard drive
Releases AQUOS zero, equipped with Sharp’s OLED display and weighing 146 grams, the world’s lightest smartphone
2019Reorganizes business organization into the three business groups of Smart Life, 8K Ecosystem, and ICT
Spins off the electronic device business to establish Sharp Fukuyama Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (SFS) and Sharp Fukuyama Laser Co., Ltd. (SFL)
Develops 5th-generation IGZO, an evolution of Sharp’s display core technology
Begins providing COCORO Home, a new smart home service combining appliances and services of Sharp and other companies
Full-scale launch of the TEKION LAB business under the Sharp brand, with the release of the TEKION COOLER bag
Takes part in the Life Up Promotion project of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
Establishes Sharp Cocoro Life Inc. to provide COCORO services and AIoT Cloud Inc. to provide AIoT platforms
Develops a 120-inch class 8K LCD monitor, the world’s largest
Co-develops with Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) a rollable 30-inch 4K flexible organic OLED display
AIoT Cloud Inc. starts providing a business communication service called LINC Biz, offering chat and teleconferencing/videoconferencing functions
2020 -
2020Establishes Sharp Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. (SMV) for the design and manufacture of electronic devices in Vietnam
Establishes Yantai Xiazhi Precision Electronics Co., Ltd. (XZ) in China for the development, manufacture, and sales of production equipment and electronic components
Launches production of nonwoven face masks at the Mie Plant; starts sales to general consumers
Chairman and President Jeng-Wu Tai named Chairman and CEO; Executive Vice President Katsuaki Nomura named President and COO
AIoT Cloud Inc. launches collaboration in gas equipment with Osaka Gas Co., Ltd and other companies; also starts providing consumer electronics data to Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc
Starts providing COCORO OFFICE, a smart office service to support telework and operational efficiency
Establishes XiaYan Technology(ShanDong) Co.,Ltd. (XT) in China as an R&D base for 8K technology and a provider of 8K solutions
Verifies for the first time in the world the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology in reducing airborne novel coronavirus
Announces a company-wide policy of strengthening business in health, medicine, and nursing
Spins off the display device business to establish Sharp Display Technology Corporation (SDTC)
Acquires the Hakusan Plant from Japan Display Inc.
Acquires NEC Display Solutions, a subsidiary of NEC Corporation; name changed to Sharp NEC Display Solutions, Ltd. (SNDS)
2021Enters field of constant-temperature transport of pharmaceuticals such as vaccines through collaboration with Sugiyama-Gen Co., Ltd. to develop products including constant-temperature transport container sets using Sharp’s 3°C Tekion cold-retention material
Spins off camera module business to establish Sharp Sensing Technology Corporation (SSTC)
Completes cancellation of all classes of shares
AQUOS TV marks 20th anniversary (reaches cumulative sales of 50 million)
Releases the AQUOS R6 smartphone, with 1-inch camera sensor, among world’s largest for smartphones, and Pro IGZO OLED display, the first with a variable refresh rate of 1 Hz to 240 Hz, through a technology tie-up with Leica Camera AG
Signs joint development agreement with Nikon Corporation on the implementation of biomimetics technology (nature technology)
Enters hearing aid market with release of Medical Listening Plug, an in-the-ear hearing aid
Sharp’s proprietary moth eye technology, Plasmacluster technology, and visible light-responsive photocatalyst material demonstrated to inactivate and reduce novel virus
Releases AQUOS XLED, a new TV brand with mini LED backlight
Worldwide shipments of Plasmacluster products reach cumulative total of 100 million units
2022Develops TEKIjuN, the world’s first solid humidity-control agent, which adjusts and maintains target humidity in airtight spaces
Philips Hue smart lights by Signify Japan become the first non-Sharp IoT appliances to work with the COCORO HOME smart life app.
Document solutions business marks 50th anniversary
Enters skincare market by releasing Medicated Crystaliq skincare items
With restructuring of the Tokyo Stock Exchange into three market segments, Sharp shares are listed on the Prime Market
Chairman Jeng-Wu Tai and President Katsuaki Nomura step down, Executive Managing Officer Po-Hsuan Wu named president and CEO; new management structure launched
Announces policy to execute management emphasizing ESG
Acquires Sakai Display Products Corporation (SDP)
Achieves a conversion efficiency of 32.65%, the world’s highest, in a lightweight, flexible, practically sized solar module
Develops LC-LH, an indoor photovoltaic device that can efficiently generate electricity from weak indoor light. The device can be mass-produced at significantly low cost and high quality using LCD production facilities.
Verifies the effectiveness of Plasmacluster technology in a series of tests, such as its potential to alleviate asthma symptoms in a test using human airway epithelial cells created from stem cell culture
2023Signs an agreement with the city of Yao, Osaka Prefecture to collaborate in citizens’ health promotion
Establishes NTT Qonoq Devices, Inc., a joint venture with NTT Qonoq, Inc., to develop and spread the use of XR (VR, AR, etc.) devices
Sharp’s unique hole-less tub washing machine marks 30th anniversary
Builds new air conditioner plant at P.T. Sharp Electronics Indonesia (SEID) in Karawang Regency, Indonesia; starts production and shipping
Verifies for the first time in the world the potential for Plasmacluster technology to induce brain activation
Joins the GX League, organized by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which aims to transform Japan’s overall economic and social system