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Corporate Name

YOSHIMOTO KOGYO CO.,LTD.

Osaka Head Office

11-6 Namba Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka City
Zip 542-0075
TEL.06-6643-1122　FAX.06-6643-1155

Tokyo Head Office

5-18-21 sinjuku shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Zip 160-0022
TEL.03-3209-8300　FAX.03-3209-8333

Established

4/1/1912

Corporate
Representatives

Isao Yoshino,Chairman
Hiroshi Osaki, President
Takeyasu Hashizume,Vice-President

Capital

12,504,500,000 Yen（As of December.2009）

Employees

644 employees and a roster of approximately 800 entertainers.

Business Operations

Planning, production, and marketing of content for TV and radio, videos, and commercials; theatre management; event promotion; advertising; real estate; show business; development and operation of other commercial facilities.

Banks

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; The Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co., Ltd.; Mizuho Bank, Ltd.; Resona Bank, Limited.

Meiji Era

1912

Yoshibe Yoshimoto and his wife Sei acquire the Daini Bungeikan theatre and take their first steps into theatre management.

Taisho Era

1913

Yoshimoto Kogyobu established in the town of Kasaya in Osaka’s Minami ward.

1914

Yoshimoto Kogyobu acquires multiple theatres, begins to form a franchise, and registers 88 entertainers.

1915

The name Kagetsu is adopted for affiliated theatres.

1921

Harudanji Katsura gives his first performance as a Yoshimoto entertainer.

1922

Owning close to thirty theatres, Yoshimoto lays the foundations of its entertainment empire.

1926

A number of theatres converted for usage as movie theatres.

Showa Era

1932

Company is reorganized to form Yoshimoto Kogyo Gomei Kaisha.

1933

First edition of ground-breaking Yoshimoto Engei Tsushin publication.
Entatsu/Achako team perform their manzai comedy masterpiece “Sokeisen” for the first time. As they win over audiences, the company establishes Arts, Publicity, and Movie divisions that will secure enduring popularity for this form of comedy.

1934

Yoshimoto invites the Marx Brothers Show to visit from the US, helping to popularize the word “show” in Japanese culture; NHK Osaka broadcasts its first live theatre performance from Nanchi Kagetsu; and the company completes production (with Nikkatsu) of its first movie, Sadojowa, which goes on to become a major hit.

1935

First edition of the Yoshimoto promotional magazine.

1937

With writer Minoro Akita at the helm, the Manzai Gakko school accepts its first students.

1938

In cooperation with Asahi Shimbun, Yoshimoto dispatches the Warawashi Tai comedy group to entertain the troops in Peking and other locations.
Sei Yoshimoto purchases the Osaka landmark, Tsutenkaku.

1941

The number of theatres and other facilities operated by the company in the main cities of Japan reaches sixty.

1945

Half of the company’s theatres are destroyed in the war.

Theatre operations restart with a focus on Western movies.

1948

The company is reorganized to form Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. with Sei Yoshimoto as chairperson of the board of directors and Shonosuke Hayashi as managing director. The company completes work on Ooshima Jowa – its first postwar movie.

1949

Listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange (May).

1950

Sei Yoshimoto dies, aged 62.

1953

Head office relocated within Osaka’s Minami ward to 1-1514 Kawahara-cho (now 11-6 Namba Sen-nichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka).

1958

Shonosuke Hayashi manages professional wrestling events in Osaka and Kyoto.

1959

Umeda Kagetsu Gekijo reopened as a comedy house. Live television
broadcasting of Yoshimoto’s variety show

Achako no Meigetsu Adagisan begins.

1960

Work completed on Yoshimoto Building (in today’s 2-5-5 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku, Osaka).

1961

Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (October).

1962

Kyoto Kagetsu Gekijo reopened as a comedy house.

1963

Sen’nichimae Grand Gekijo converted into a playhouse and renamed Namba Kagetsu.
Start of live broadcasts of the Yoshimoto Shinkigeki television show from Namba Katgetsu.
Head office relocated to the Yoshimoto building.

1964

Bowl Yoshimoto opens its doors as the largest bowling alley in western Japan.

1966

Establishment of mission statement and company motto.

1970

Theatres enjoy a boom in popularity among young people as a venue for seeing famous TV personalities such as Nikaku Shofukutei, Sanshi Katsura, and the Yasushi & Kiyoshi duo in person.

1973

Establishment of TV-show planning and production company, ITS.

1975

Establishment of record and book publisher, Yoshimoto Ongaku Shuppan.

1980

Production division opens its Tokyo office. Unprecedented boom in manzai-style comedy brings many new stars to the fore.

1981

First edition of the Monthly Yoshimoto magazine.

1982

Company opens its New Star Creation (NSC) school for entertainers.

1986

Shinsaibashi-suji Nichome Gekijo theatre opens within the Yoshimoto Building.
SSM Co., Ltd. established as a vocalist training and management company.

1987

Completion of work on Yoshimoto Kaikan, which houses the Namba Grand Kagetsu theatre, NGK Hall studio, and Deese Jenny disco. The company head office also relocates to this building.
Establishment of Pacific Enterprise Co., Ltd. to manage live performance venues.

1988

Nagoya office opens.
Completion of the Passagio Kyoto Yoshimoto building at the Kyoto Kagetsu site.

Heisei Era

1989

Opening of the Fukuoka office and of the Encore live-performance pub at Higashi Shinsaibashi.

1990

Completion of Swing Yoshimoto at the Namba Kagetsu site.
Bayside Jenny opens at Tempozan Harbor Village.

1991

Shonosuke Hayashi dies, aged 92.
Hideo Nakamura appointed president.

1992

Production division’s Tokyo office becomes the Tokyo Branch.
Swing Umeda is completed at the Umeda Kagetsu site and the Umeda Kagetsu Theatre opens.
Company celebrates its 80th year with a special publication describing its history.
City of Los Vegas awards the company for its contribution to the strengthening of Japan-US relations.

1993

Yoshimoto Hirokoji Shogekijyo theatre opens in Nagoya.
Completion of Yoshimoto Kaikan annex.
Company provides support at the International Circus Festival held in Verona, Italy.
Participation in Menschen Tiere Sensationen – Europe’s largest performance festival.

1994

Ginza Nanachome Gekijo theatre opens in Tokyo’s Ginza district.
Sapporo office opens.
Counter Bar Yoshimoto opens at the new Kansai International Airport.
Establishment of management philosophy and rules for the organization and employees.
First participation in the Midosuji Parade (sharing a float with 551 Horai).

1995

Shibuya Koen-dori Gekijo theatre opened in Tokyo’s Shibuya district.
Tokyo branch of New Star Creation (NSC) school opens.
New company logo unveiled.
Overseas performance staged in Honolulu under the name Hawaii Kagetsu.

1996

Work completed on YES・NAMBA.
Establishment of fm Chuo Co., Ltd. and first broadcast by YES-fm community radio station.
Start of Yoshimoto’s “Jd” female professional wrestling events.
Yoshimoto Kaigan-dori Gekijo theatre opens at Kobe Harbor Land.
Tatemachi Yoshimoto Gekijo theatre opens in Kanazawa.

1997

Yoshimoto Sakae Sanchome Gekijo theatre opens in Nagoya (as Yoshimoto Hirokojisho Gekijo theatre closes).
Chayadosu and Kuudokko opened within the JR Kyoto Station building.
200th edition of Monthly Yoshimoto magazine.
Establishment of YN Partners Co., Ltd., Yes Business Co., Ltd., Yoshimoto Kurabu Co., Ltd., Yoshimoto Food Service Co., Ltd., and New Kids in Yoshimoto Co., Ltd.
Establishment of Yoshimoto USA Inc. in Hawaii.

1998

Establishment of y’s Vision Co., Ltd., Yoshimoto Live Music Agency Co., Ltd., and Yoshimoto Finance Co., Ltd.

1999

Kanko Meisho Otaru Yoshimoto comedy theme park opens in Hokkaido.
321 Records Ltd. established. Yoshimoto 111 Gekijo theatre opens in Fukuoka.
Hideo Nakamura appointed chairperson of the board of directors.
Hiroaki Hayashi appointed managing director.
base Yoshimoto opens in Osaka.

2000

Establishment of Fandango Co., Ltd. and New X Co., Ltd.
Okayama office opens and operations get underway at Yoshimoto Sanchome Gekijo theatre.
Tokyo Branch becomes Tokyo Head Office.
Nagoya Office becomes Tokai Branch office.
Mother Hall venue opens at SWING Yoshimoto.
Establishment of Orange Music Co., Ltd.
Fukuoka’s Yoshimoto 111 Gekijo theatre renamed Yoshimoto Golden Gekijo.

2001

Start of Royal Wing cruise services out of Yokohama.
Lumine the Yoshimoto opens in Shinjuku.
Establishment of record company R and C Japan Co., Ltd.
Establishment of Casty Co., Ltd.
Work completed on Yoshimoto Kogyo Building’s Shinsaibashi Ichigokan.

2002

Establishment of Yoshimoto Travel Entertainment Co., Ltd.
Special performance of Yoshimoto Shinkigeki in Shanghai and release of the movie Ashita ga Aru Sa: The Movie to celebrate the ninetieth anniversary of the company’s founding.
Establishment of Ariake Studio Co., Ltd.
Tokyo Head Office and Osaka Head Office become Tokyo Headquarters and Osaka Headquarters, respectively.
Yoshimoto Kurabu Co., Ltd. and Yoshimoto Food Service Co., Ltd. merge to form Yoshimoto Club Co., Ltd.

2003

Umeda Kagetsu opens in Osaka.

2004

Yoshimoto Shotengai opens underneath Namba Grand Kagetsu theatre.
Yoshimoto Omoshiro Suizokukan aquarium opens in Yokohama.
R and C Japan Co., Ltd. changes its name to R and C Co., Ltd.
Hiroshima office opens.

2005

Isao Yoshino appointed managing director.
Establishment of Yoshimoto Laugh & Peace Co., Ltd.

2006

Fandango Co., Ltd. listed on Hercules market.
Yoshimoto Mugendai Hall opens in Shibuya.
Yoshimoto Kaiun Kenko Kofuku Hyakkaten department store opens in Osaka.
Asakusa Kagetsu opens.

2007

Yoshomoto Kogyo holds LIVE STAND comedy festival. Start of YOSHIMOTO DIRECTORS’ 100 – a TV series of 100 Yoshimoto movies. Jimbocho Kagetsu opens. Creation of Yoshimoto Group holding company system. With Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., Ltd. as holding company, Yoshimoto Creative Agency Co., Ltd., Yoshimoto Developments Co., Ltd., and Yoshimoto Administration Co., Ltd. are newly established, and Yoshimoto R and C Co., Ltd. and Yoshomoto Fandango Co., Ltd.* are configured in parallel, thus reinforcing the group system. (*: Yoshomoto Fandango Co., Ltd. is made a wholly-owned subsidiary through an equity swap and changes its operating name.) New logo unveiled for Yoshimoto Kogyo Group.

2008

Tokyo Headquarters relocates to building formerly occupied by Shinjuku-ku Yotsuya No. 5 Elementary School.
Establishment of Zophie Products Co., Ltd.
Yoshimoto Creative College opens to train staff in the Yoshimoto way.
Kyobashi Kagetsu opens.
Acquisition and consolidation of Trash Co., Ltd.

2009

Acquisition and consolidation of Sports Marketing Japan Co., Ltd.
Establishment of Yoshimoto Staff Management Co., Ltd.
Yoshimoto hosts the Okinawa International Movie Festival.
Isao Yoshino appointed chairperson of the board of directors.
Hiroshi Osaki appointed managing director.
Yoshimoto Prince Theatre opens in Shinagawa.
Yoshimoto Asoberu Suizokukan aquarium opens in Shinmisato.
Acquired and consolidated by Quantum Entertainment – an investment fund set up by Nobuyuki Idei – with the aim of accelerating shared usage of entertainment content and expansion into the Asian market.

2010

Delisted from Osaka Securities Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Yoshimoto Kogyo reborn through merger with Quantum Entertainment and with media industry companies as its new shareholders.
Takeyasu Hashizume appointed assistant managing director.