| Year |
Developments at Sharp |
World Events |
| 1961 |
- ・ Establishes Central Research Laboratories and begins research on electronic calculators, solar cells, medical equipment, etc.
- ・ Develops R-20, Japan’s first microwave oven
|
- ・ USSR launches first manned space flight (April 12)
- ・ Berlin Wall built (August 13)
|
| 1962 |
- ・ Markets R-10, the first Japan-made microwave oven
- ・ Establishes Sharp Electronics Corporation (SEC) in the US, Sharp’s first overseas sales base
- ・ Donates Hayakawa Welfare Hall to the city of Osaka
- ・ Develops transistor radio, the first consumer product to use solar cells
|
- ・ Number of NHK licenses exceeds 10 million (Japan)
|
| 1963 |
- ・ Succeeds in mass production of solar cells for the first time in Japan
- ・ Company reorganized into three divisions: radio, home appliances and industrial equipment
- ・ Establishes service company (now Sharp Engineering Corporation)
|
- ・ FM radio broadcasts begin in Japan
- ・ Assassination of US President John F. Kennedy (November 23)
- ・ First satellite TV linkup between Japan and US (November 23)
|
| 1964 |
- ・ Develops and markets CS-10A, the world's first all transistor-diode electronic desktop calculator
|
- ・ Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train begins operation in Japan (October 1)
- ・ Tokyo Olympics (October 10)
|
1965 |
- ・ Institutes "70 Strategy" to strengthen distribution system
- ・ Launches ATOM unit program (August 16)
|
- ・ USSR cosmonaut performs first space walk (March 18)
|
| 1966 |
- ・ Begins research on laser diodes
- ・ Markets R-600, the first Japan-made microwave oven with a turntable
- ・ Markets CS-31A, the world's first electronic calculator incorporating ICs
- ・ Installs world's largest solar cells in the Ogami Island lighthouse in Nagasaki, Japan
|
- ・ Population of Japan passes 100 million mark
- ・ Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution begins in China (May 16)
|
| 1967 |
- ・ Constructs Hiroshima Plant
- ・ Markets CS-16A all-IC electronic calculator
- ・ Launches "55 Campaign" to celebrate 55th anniversary of company’s founding
|
- ・ EC (European Community) established (July 1)
|
| 1968 |
- ・ Constructs Tochigi Plant
- ・ Holds first Basic Management Policy Presentation
- ・ Establishes Sharp Electronics (Europe) GmbH (SEEG) as sales base in West Germany
|
- ・ Prototype LCD produced by Heilmeyer at RCA in the US
|
| 1969 |
- ・ Signs cooperative technical agreement with North American Rockwell Corporation, leading to the development of ELSI (extra large-scale integration) chips
- ・ Markets QT-8D, the world’s first electronic calculator incorporating LSIs
- ・ Develops world’s first GND (gallium arsenic negative resistance light-emitting diode) semiconductor
- ・ Markets HSR-72A, the first kerosene heater to use a glass core
- ・ Issues EDR (European depository receipts)
- ・ Launches MI campaign
- ・ Establishes Sharp Electronics (U.K.) Ltd. (SUK) as sales base in the UK
- ・ Establishes office equipment marketing company
|
- ・ US Apollo 11 lands on the moon and man walks on its surface for the first time (July 20)
|
| 1970 |
- ・ Changes company name to Sharp Corporation (January 1)
- ・ Tokuji Hayakawa named chairman, Akira Saeki named president (September 15)
- ・ Constructs Advanced Development and Planning Center in Tenri, Nara, Japan
- ・ Begins mass production of LSI (large-scale integration) chips
- ・ Begins mass production of LED (light emitting diode) devices
- ・ Establishes Sharp Precision Machinery Co., Ltd.
|
- ・ Expo ’70 Japan opens (March 14)
|