May 1946 |
Tamiya Shoji Limited Partnership was established in Oshika, Shizuoka City, for the purpose of processing and selling general building materials. |
April 1948 |
Recognizing the promising future of wooden models, the company established a woodworking department, which also began manufacturing and selling model teaching materials. |
June 1953 |
The general building materials manufacturing and sales division was dissolved and the company started as a specialized manufacturer of wooden models. |
May 1960 |
The first all-plastic model assembly kit, the 1/800 scale Battleship Yamato, was released. |
January 1962 |
The first motorized plastic model tank, the 1/35 Panther Tank, is released. |
December 1962 |
The plastic molding division was spun off and Tamiya Plastic Industry Co., Ltd. was established. |
January 1967 |
The first issue of the model information magazine Tamiya News is published. |
January 1968 |
Tamiya exhibits for the first time at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair (now Spielwarenmesse), one of the world’s largest toy fairs. The 1/12 scale Honda F-1 model enhances Tamiya’s reputation for precision scale plastic models. |
August 1969 |
Tamiya Plastic Industry Co., Ltd. changes its name to Tamiya Model Co., Ltd., and strengthens its mold and molding divisions. |
August 1973 |
Tamiya Shoji Co., Ltd. completed its head office and set factory at 628 Oshika, Shizuoka City, a four-story reinforced concrete building with a total floor area of 4,500 m². |
November 1976 |
Founder and Chairman, the late Yoshio Tamiya, is awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fifth Class. |
November 1976 |
1/12 scale electric radio control car Porsche 934 Turbo released. |
May 1977 |
Shunsaku Tamiya is appointed President and Representative Director of Tamiya Model Co., Ltd. |
November 1977 |
A three-story, 5,460m² distribution center is completed on the Tamiya Shoji (affiliated) site. |
October 1978 |
Tamiya Circuit completed on land adjacent to Tamiya Shoji. |
October 1978 |
Tamiya Plastics Co., Ltd. was established with the expansion of the plastic molding division. |
May 1980 |
The first Tamiya Modellers Gallery exhibition, sponsored by Tamiya, was held at Tokyu Hands Shibuya in Tokyo. |
December 1980 |
Tamiya Model Co., Ltd.’s new headquarters (main building) is completed at 3-7 Ondahara, Shizuoka City. It is a six-story building with a total floor area of 7,000 m². |
July 1982 |
The Mini 4WD series, which would later become a huge hit, began with the Ford Ranger 4×4. |
March 1984 |
As Tamiya Shoji Co., Ltd. expanded its business, Tamiya Co., Ltd. was established. Shunsaku Tamiya was appointed President and Representative Director.
Tamiya Co., Ltd. took over all of Tamiya Shoji’s operations. |
November 1985 |
Tamiya Plastics Co., Ltd. Ikeda Factory begins operation. |
November 1988 |
Yoshio Tamiya, founder and chairman of the Tamiya Group, passes away at the age of 83. |
April 1989 |
Construction of the second headquarters building (East Wing) was completed on the Tamiya Model Co., Ltd. headquarters premises, with 8 floors above ground and 1 basement floor, totaling 8,500 m². |
May 1989 |
Tamiya America is established in Los Angeles as a local office to expand sales in the United States. |
September 1989 |
Tamiya Europe GMBH is established in Neuss, Germany as a sales base in preparation for the integration of the European Community. |
April 1990 |
Tamiya’s second distribution center is completed at 915 Oshika, Shizuoka City. It is a four-story building with a total floor area of 5,317 m². |
July 1990 |
Tamiya Hall opens at the Bovington Tank Museum in the UK. |
December 1990 |
The planning, development, and other operations of Tamiya Model Co., Ltd. are integrated into Tamiya Co., Ltd. |
July 1992 |
Tamiya America’s headquarters building is completed in Aliso Viejo, Orange County, California. |
December 1993 |
Tamiya Hong Kong is established. |
September 1994 |
Tamiya Philippines is established in the Mactan Island Special Export Processing Zone, Cebu, Philippines. |
June 1995 |
Following the wishes of the late Yoshio Tamiya, he established the Tamiya Scholarship Foundation. |
December 1995 |
The Mini 4WD series reaches a cumulative production of 100 million units. |
May 1996 |
The Tamiya R&D Center Kakegawa, a research and development facility, and the Tamiya Kakegawa Circuit, one of the largest in the world with a site area of approximately 7,000m² and a course length of 320m, have opened in Kakegawa City, Shizuoka Prefecture. |
December 1996 |
Tamiya Europe GMBH moves to Fürth, Germany. |
April 1997 |
A scholarship program has been launched in the Philippines for students enrolled at both the University of San Carlos and the University of the Philippines. |
November 2000 |
The first Tamiya Fair was held at Twin Messe Shizuoka South Hall. |
March 2005 |
Received the 1st Design Excellent Company Award from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization. |
June 2006 |
Tamiya Tokyo office opens in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. |
June 2007 |
Tamiya America moves from Aliso Viejo, California to Irvine, California. |
June 2008 |
Senior Managing Director Masayuki Tamiya is appointed President and Representative Director of Tamiya Co., Ltd. President Shunsaku Tamiya becomes Chairman and Representative Director. |
September 2008 |
The official Tamiya Plastic Model Factory Shimbashi store opens in Shimbashi, Tokyo.
Tamiya’s Tokyo office is relocated to the same location. |
October 2008 |
An off-road course for RC cars and a full-scale rock crawling field were constructed within the Tamiya Kakegawa Circuit. |
April 2012 |
Tamiya Scholarship Foundation transitions from a foundation to a public interest incorporated foundation. |
April 2015 |
The “1/1 Mini 4WD Real Car Project” begins. The “1/1 Mini 4WD Aero Avante” will be unveiled for the first time in October. |
June 2016 |
Tamiya Kakegawa Circuit reopens as an all-weather circuit. |
June 2016 |
In response to the Kumamoto earthquake, we sold “Ganbare! Kumamoto Mini 4WD (Kumamon Edition)” and donated all profits to Kumamoto Prefecture. |
February 2017 |
The 68th Spielwarenmesse, the world’s largest toy fair, was held in Germany. Tamiya celebrated its 50th anniversary of exhibiting at the fair. |
May 2017 |
President and CEO Masayuki Tamiya passes away (aged 59). |
June 2017 |
Shunsaku Tamiya, Chairman and Representative Director of Tamiya Co., Ltd., will also serve as President. |
July 2018 |
The 1/35 scale military miniature series celebrates its 50th anniversary. The lineup includes 360 models. |
October 2023 |
Tamiya Philippines begins operations at new factory in CLIP (Cebu Light Industrial Park) on Mactan Island, Cebu |
May 2024 |
TAMIYA PLAMODEL FACTORY TOKYO opens in Shinbashi, Tokyo as a new flagship location. |
July 2024 |
Senior Managing Director Nobuo Tamiya is appointed President and Representative Director of Tamiya Co., Ltd. Chairman and President Shunsaku Tamiya becomes Chairman and Representative Director. |