Chronology

1960 - 1969

1960

1961

1962

Establishes 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

1963

Establishes service company in Osaka
Company reorganized into three divisions: radio, home appliances, and industrial equipment
Establishes Sharp Tokyo Product Center

1964

Release 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

1965

1966

1967

Launches 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

1968

Establishes 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

1969

Launches 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)