History

Kyodo's history is a challenge to the changing times

Rinzo Saito, the founder of the company, speaks passionately, albeit in a quiet tone, about his thoughts on the founding of the company and his spirit that overcame hardships and carried him through the times. He then tells the history of how the second president, Morihiro Saito, inherited his spirit and challenged the changes of the times. This spirit has been passed on to the present management, which aims to share joy with customers and business partners and to be a trusted company.

Kyodo's Seventy Years of History

Milestones

September 1939

Rinzo Saito establishes Kyodo Rubber Office at 1-10 Azumabashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

Founder Rinzo Saito
In front of Kyodo Rubber Industries office

Founder Rinzo Saito
In front of Kyodo Rubber Industries office

May 1948

Constituted as a joint stock company, capital of 1 million yen

January 1960

Company name changed to Kyodo Rubber Industry Co.

October 1961

Location moved to 4-20-2 Higashi-Komagata, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

December 1970

Capital increased to 12 million yen

December 1975

Completion of new company building (6-story reinforced concrete building)

October 1977

Tohoku Sales Office opened in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture

November 1987

Taichung Branch opened in Taichung City, Taiwan.

January 1988

Ltd. was established in Changhua County, Taiwan, and the Taichung Branch was merged with Taiwan Ho-One Co.

February 1992

Ltd. moved its factory and office to Nangang Industrial District, Nantou City, Nantou Hsien, Taiwan.

March 1992

Kyodo Nishi-Tokyo Distribution Center is established in Mizuho-cho, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo.

May 1993

Morihiro Saito becomes president and Rinzo Saito becomes chairman.

June 1995

KYODO AMERICA INDUSTRIES CO., LTD. established in suburban Atlanta, USA

August 1998

Distribution center moved to Uenohara Industrial Park in Uenohara City, Yamanashi Prefecture and renamed Kyodo West Tokyo.

June 2003

SINGHAPRO CO.,LTD. is established in Rojana Industrial Estate, Rayong Province, Thailand.

August 2004

Kyodo West Tokyo completes expansion and extension work

April 2005

Company name changed to KYODO CO., LTD.

November 2005

Lawn mower production begins at Taiwan's Hao Ichiban Plant.

November 2006

Obtained ISO 9001 certification

November 2007

KYODO South America Indústria e Comércio de Máquinas Ltda opened in Sao Paulo, Brazil

January 2009

KD Engineering Co., Ltd. was established to design and manufacture solar cells, liquid crystals, semiconductor-related and labor-saving machinery, and acquired ISO 14001 certification.

September 2013

Hiroshi Saito becomes president, Morihiro Saito becomes chairman, and Rinzo Saito becomes honorary chairman.

December 2014

MONTEVERDY Co., Ltd. established in Bangkok, Thailand

May 2016

Founder and Honorary Chairman Rinzo Saito passed away; company funeral held.

September 2017

Forest Kyodo Co., Ltd. established for the purpose of selling various agricultural and forestry equipment, and a store is set up in the Tohoku Sales Office.

February 2018

Kyodo Meditech Co., Ltd. established to develop and market devices to prevent myopia and alleviate eye strain.

February 2019

Kyodo Meditec Co., Ltd. registers "Myofree®" as a trademark.

November 2019

Celebrated 50th anniversary of Chairman Morihiro Saito's service at the Imperial Hotel

October 2020

Received "Business Continuity Enhancement Plan" certification from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

September 2021

Received an award from the Japan Football Association (JFA) for longtime cooperation in supporting soccer for the disabled.

March 2022

Received an Excellent Appreciation Award (Quality Division) from Honda Motor Co.

June 2022

Renovation of Forest Kyodo Co. store as a brand store of Husqvarna Zenoah, a major agricultural and forestry equipment manufacturer.

September 2023

Head office relocated to Ichigaya Honmuracho, Shinjuku Ward

October 2023

Acquires all shares of Unlimited Co., Ltd.
To Atletico Suzuka Club Owner

February 2024

Established the Web Marketing Division

May 2024

OPE Division established

December 2024

・Acquired the hobby engine manufacturing and sales business from Husqvarna Zenoah Co., Ltd.
・Established Kyodo Outdoor Power Products Co., Ltd. as a manufacturer and distributor of hobby engines and engine parts.