History

1897 Tokumatsu Ishikawa, the founder of Zebra Co., Ltd.. made and marketed the first domestically produced metal nibs.
1914

Adopted Zebra Brand and registered Zebra as a trademark.
1945 All facilities destroyed under Allied bombing in World War II.
1948 Accomplished the first reconstruction plan. Following completion of the second reconstruction plan in 1950, a foothold for mass production was build, the number of researchers expanded and the quality of merchandise was stabilized.
1951 Founder Tokumatsu Ishikawa honored with Japan national award for distinguished services to industry.
1959 Zebra marketed its first ballpoint pen.
1963 Company name changed to "Zebra Co., Ltd.." and Hideaki Ishikawa became Company President.
1964

Zebra marketed three-color ballpoint pen.
1965 Zebra marketed its first felt-tip pen.
1966 The Nogi Factory in Tochigi Pref., in Japan commissioned.
1975

Zebra marketed its first brush pen and fluorescent marking pen.
1976

Zebra marketed Double ended Marker.
1977

Sharbo two-in-one ballpoint pen/mechanical pencil products introduced.
1979 New headquarters opened in Tokyo.
1981

Started production and marketing of DX Hard ballpoint pen.
1982

ZEBRA PEN CORP. (U.S.A.) is established.
Zebra marketed its first needle-tip rolling pen, Be-Pen.
1989 Marketed DRAFIX leads for mechanical pencils.
1990 Established a laboratory building in headquarters site to reinforce ability to develop new products.
1992

Marketed JELL-BE new-generation jell ink ball-point pen and a pen-type correction liquid.
Completed Nogi new factory with a progressive new project control system.
Zebra Pen (U.K.) LTD. is established.
1993 Marketed a fluorescent marking pen with transparent barrel adopting automatic ink supply system.
1994 JIMMNIE ballpoint pen for office use launched.
1995 ZEBRA PEN CORP. (Canadian Division) is established.
Subsidiary manufacturing plant established in Jakarta, Indonesia.
1997 Celebrated 100th anniversary of foundation. Fluorescent adapted jell ink Jell Pearl marketed.
1998 Hideaki Ishikawa became Company Chairman and Shinichi Ishikawa became Company President.
ZEBRA PEN (MEXICO) is established.
HYPER JELL and JIMNIE LIGHT marketed.
1999 SUPER MARBLE, a jell-ink ballpoint pen with 3 colors ink, marketed.
2000 Pticolon, a jell-ink ballpoint pen that delivers a faint aroma as you write, market.
2001 Factory in Mexico established.
Office in Shanghai established.
2002 The Nogi Factory in Japan has been accredited with the ISO 14001 Certification.
2004 Zebra marketed multifunctional item "Clip-on multi".
2006 Zebra launch the Z-1, new formula ink ball-point pen.