Japanese Postwar Clock & Watch Industry
| 1945 | * The Second World War annihilated domestic watch and clock manufacturing factories. * And their facilities were subject to governmental rehabilitation action. |
| 1946 | * Watches and clocks were specified as a product item covered by the Law for Controlling Major Export Products. * Industries and academies unanimously established the Committee on Horological Science and Technology. |
| 1947 | * Export of Japan-made watches and clocks started. |
| 1948 | * A 5-year Reconstruction Plan for Horological Industry was announced. * The Japan Clock & Watch Association and the Horological Institute of Japan were founded. * The first Trade Show of the Japan-Made Watch and Clock was held. |
| 1949 | * Mr. Clifford (UK) invented a magnetic escapement. * Mr. Lians (USA) finalized an atomic clock or a molecular clock. * The All Japan Watch & Clock Retail Association was founded. * The Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) on watches and clocks for export was issued. * The first Council for Quality Inspection of the Japan-made Watch and Clock was held. |
| 1950 | * Appeals to mitigate the regulations of raw materials for use in watches and clocks and to promote the import of watches and clocks were launched. * The second Council for Quality Inspection of the Japan-made Watch and Clock was held. |
| 1951 | * The Japan Distributor's Association was founded. * The Federal Law concerning Swiss Watch Industry was enacted in Switzerland. * The commodity tax exemption rate was raised. * The Weights and Measurement Law was enforced. * The Standardization Council on the Production Technology of the Wall Clock was organized. |
| 1952 | * Import of foreign-made watches was officially approved. * A battery-powered watch was developed in the USA and France. * The watch & clock industry joined a commodity tax abolition alliance. * A demand was boosted to remove a ban to export watches and clocks to the People's Republic of China (P. R. C.). |
| 1953 | * An appeal was launched to reduce the commodity tax (the commodity tax ratio was reduced). * An appeal was launched to restrict the import of low-end watches and clocks. |
| 1954 | * A demand was boosted to control smuggled watches and clocks. * Kyoto University fabricated Japan's first atomic timekeeping instrument. * The Japan Watch & Clock Inspection Institute was founded. |
| 1955 | * The Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation started a dial up telephone time service. * The Japan Importers' Association was founded. * MITI organized a Subcommittee of Watch & Clock in the Export Conference. |
| 1956 | * Japan's first automatic winding watches were put on the market. * Japan's first shock-resistant watches were put on the market. * The Institute for the Development of Horological Production Technology was founded. * The catch phrase invitation campaign was implemented throughout Japan on the National Time Day. |
| 1957 | * A cooperative watch and clock advertising campaign was deployed nationwide. * The Temporary Measures Law for the Promotion of Machine Industry applied to clocks. |
| 1958 | * The Watch and Clock Exhibition, including imports, was held. * Major watch and clock manufacturing plants in Japan adopted a belt conveyor assembly system. |
| 1959 | * The commodity tax exemption rate was raised (a new fixed retail taxation method was adopted). |
| 1960 | * Japan's first atomic clocks were produced. * Tuning fork watches were launched in the USA market. * Import of watch and clock manufacturing machines was approved. * Industrial organizations and associations discussed measures for preventing clearance sales. |
| 1961 | * The import tariff rate was revised. * Import of some watches and clocks was liberalized. |
| 1962 | * The JCWA prepared a report to MITI to forecast Market Demand. * The Swiss Watch Industry started inspections of watches to be exported, subject to the Swiss Federal Laws. * The commodity tax was reduced from 50 % to 40 % |
| 1963 | * Japan-made radio-controlled clocks were put on the market. * An appeal was filed to MITI to reduce the US tariff. * Watches and clocks were exhibited in the Exhibition for World Respected Products sponsored by the Council for Development of the Japan-made Products. |
| 1964 | * Several watch and clock manufacturers were awarded based on the Award Program for Export Promoted Companies. * The first Japanese Official Olympic Timing System was adopted in Japan at the Tokyo Olympic Games. * The Light Machinery Center was founded. |
| 1965 | * The Horological Market Research Delegates were organized and dispatched to South-East Asia and East Africa. * The Japanese horological industry was admitted to a membership of the ISO/TC114 (Technical Committee for Horology). |
| 1966 | * THE JCWA assisted the National Examination Program for Superior Skills. * An appeal was filed to remove the allocation system on duty exemptions of watches in the Virgin Islands (USA). |
| 1967 | * The Horological Market Research Delegates were organized and dispatched to the USA. * A staff member was dispatched to the Light Machinery Center of Germany to gather trade & industry information of watches and clocks. * The world's first Japan-made quartz home clocks were put on the market. |
| 1968 | * The Japan Chronometer Inspection Institute was founded. * The JCWA sponsored the International Vocational Training Competition dubbed the Olympics for Technology. |
| 1969 | * The annual production of watches and clocks exceeded 40 million pieces in Japan. * The world's first Japan-made quartz analog watches were put on the market. * Delegates of the Federation of the Swiss watch Industry (FH) visited Japan and the JCWA. |
| 1970 | * An appeal was filed with MITI to approve the export of watch and clock parts at free of exchange. * The JCWA sponsored the Olympics for Technology held in Japan. |
| 1971 | * The JCWA had a friendly talk with directors of FH and the German Watch and Clock Federation. * A rule on how to indicate a standard retail price and a partial payment price on the product was discussed with MITI. |
| 1972 | * Japanese watch manufactures voluntarily restricted the export of watches. * The leap seconds were introduced. |
| 1973 | * Commodity tax exemption rate was raised. * The world's first Japan-made 6-digit LC display quartz digital watches were put on the market. * The JCWA determined the disposal rules of used watch batteries together with MITI. |
| 1974 | * Administrative guidance of the restrictions on an appreciation in price was given by MITI. * The JCWA discussed the issue of a misleading origin marking with the Swiss Watch Industry. |
| 1975 | * The Japanese Horological manufacturers(watches,clocks & parts) were designated as the Industry for Employment Adjustment Subsidy. * The JCWA objected to the current preferential tariff and a proposal of an appreciation in the quartz watch tariff given by the USA. |
| 1976 | * The world's first Japan-made solar cell powered quartz analog watches were put on the market. * A Voluntary Guideline for Packaging (Regulation for Excess Packaging) was formulated. * The JCWA reviewed the Tokyo and Kobe regional bylaws on the Regulation for Descriptions in Product Warranty. |
| 1977 | * A council for discussing the electric appliances safety guide was established in concert with industries concerned. * The Research Committee for Development of Hi-Technology was organized. |
| 1978 | * MITI obliged watchmakers to attach the written product warranty to all watches and clocks according to the product warranty guideline published by MITI. * The JCWA objected to the revised tariff proposed by the USA. * The JCWA announced a plan for the voluntary watch and clock marking guideline. |
| 1979 | * Japanese and Swiss watchmakers individually developed a quartz watch of less than 2 mm in total thickness. * The JIS Committee revised the horological terminology. * Domestic watch and clock production volume ranked top in the world. * The exhibition titled "History of the Japanese Horological Industry" was held. |
| 1980 | * Japan-made watches were apt to be bipolarized to low-end and middle to high-end. * The JIS Committee established a water-resistant watch standard. * The ISO/TC 114 International Conference was held in Tokyo. * The Committee for Harmonized Distribution of Watches and Clocks was organized. |
| 1981 | * A demand for removing a price tag from watches & clocks was boosted (due to the diversified distribution channels). * France restricted the import of Hong Kong-made watches. * Domestic watch and clock production volume broke the 100 million pcs. * The Committee for Harmonized Distribution of Watches and Clocks published an interim report. |
| 1982 | * The first Hong Kong Watches and Clocks Fair was held. * A lineup of Swiss-made "Swatch" was announced in Japan. * The Committee for Harmonized Distribution of Watches and Clocks published a final report (an open pricing system was implemented). * The JCWA was authorized as an incorporated association by MITI. * The ISO/TC 114 International Conference was held in Tokyo. |
| 1983 | * Two Swiss watch conglomerates ASUAG and SSIH merged into one. * EC countries cautioned Japan against the export of Japan-made quartz watches (MITI directed domestic watchmakers to restrict the export of Japan-made quartz watches to the EC). * The import duties in Japan on watches and clocks were completely eliminated. |
| 1984 | * Restructuring of nationwide distributors started. * French exercised the action for restricting the import of digital watches to the EC block. * The JCWA issued a marking guideline for watches & clocks. * MITI announced the Vision for the Japanese Horological Industry. |
| 1985 | * Domestic watchmakers established a mutual, cooperative watch parts supply system. * "Swatch" was launched in Japan. |
| 1986 | * Domestic watchmakers made their debut at the Basle Fair. |
| 1987 | * Horology collaboration VAN (Time Network) started. * A distribution improvement subcommittee was organized to cope with distribution problems. |
| 1988 | * Consumers' preference returned to analog display ; Analog Renaissance. * The world's first Japan-made automatic winding quartz watches were put on the market. |
| 1989 | * The change in the taxation system (the abolition of a commodity tax and the introduction of a consumption tax) caused an increase of paralleled imports. * The modified watch marking rule was implemented in a manner consistent with the revision of the US Tariff Schedule. |
| 1990 | * Import of high-end Swiss-made watches was increased due to the abolition of the commodity tax law. * The JCWA issued a counter-statement against the revision of the watch origin marking rule stipulated by Hong Kong. * The JCWA prepared the "Vision for the Japanese Horological Industry 1990". *The JCWA issued a report on "Research of the Horological Distribution System and Structure". |
| 1991 | * Hong Kong revised the watch origin marking rule. * The Japan Watch & Clock Inspection Institute was dissolved. |
| 1992 | * The 9th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference (held every other year) took place in Tokyo. * The Technical Committee on Harmonized Rules of Origin,was organized in JMC(Japan Machinery Center for Trade and Investment), an advisory body of MITI. |
| 1993 | * Radio-controlled watches were put on the market. * The "Explanation and Q&A of Product Liability Law and its Q&A" was published. |
| 1994 | * The JCWA member companies accomplished the total abolition of ozone layer destructive substances prior to legislation. * The JCWA approached to exclude watches and clocks from the application of the EU Directives on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC). * The Japanese horological manufacturers(watches, clocks & parts) were specified as the Industry for Selected Employment Adjustment. * The JCWA prepared the "Vision for the Japanese Horological Industry 1994." |
| 1995 | *The demand for environmentally-friendly battery-free watches became stronger. * Domestic watchmakers accelerated to shift production plants overseas. * The JCWA presented clocks to the self-governing body in the area hit by the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. * The JCWA distributed PR brochures during the Basel Fair(annual activity). |
| 1996 | * The Japanese Horological Industry was specified as the Industry for Selected Employment Adjustment. * The JCWA discussed a pending issue of the watch origin marking rule with the delegations of the Swiss Watch Industry and the Hong Kong Watch industry. * The JCWA prepared a report on Study of Asian Watches and Clocks Industry. |
| 1997 | * Popularity of digital watches swelled again. * The ISO/TC114 International Conference was held in Tokyo. |
| 1998 | * Import duties on metallic watchbands were eliminated. * A written request for the U.S.-Japan Enhanced Initiative on the Deregulation and Competition Policy was submitted to MITI. * The JCWA celebrated the 50th anniversary. * The JCWA participated in the 12th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference in Malaysia. |
| 1999 | *The JCWA participated in the ISO/TC 114 International Meeting held at Bangalore in India. *The JCWA opened its Web site. *The JCWA joined the First International Basel Conference of Horological Industry (hererafter to join every year). *Standard radio-wave transmission officially started and radio-controlled watches & clocks became popular. *FTC (USA) Guides for the Watch Industry were abolished. |
| 2000 | *The JCWA participated in the 13th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference in Hong Kong. *EU Directive restricting the use of Nickel was implemented. *The number of items to which the Containers and Packaging Recycling Law applies was increased in Japan. *The Japanese watch and clock manufacturers are taking stronger measures to eliminate the counterfeit watches & clocks sold in the East Asia. |
| 2001 | *The JCWA participated in the ISO/TC 114 International Meeting held at Zhuhai in China. *The JCWA dispatched Study Mission Members to The China International Watch Jewelry Fair at Shenzhen. *The second standard radio-wave transmission station was established in Kyushu ,which made radio-controlled watches & clocks more popular. *Sponsored by Communications Research Laboratory, the Standard Radio-Wave Symposium was held in Tokyo. *The JCWA started promotion activities for improvements in recycling used button-type batteries for watches. |
| 2002 | *The Japan China Horological Association's Interchange was founded and the first executive meeting was held in Beijing, China. *International Intellectual Property Protection Forum (IIPPF) was founded and the JCWA joined as one of the foundation members. *The First Intellectual Property rights meeting between the JCWA and Horologe Association of P.R.China was held in Beijing, China. *The JCWA participated in the 14th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference in Seoul, Korea. *The first technical meeting for standardization of watches and clocks between the JCWA and Horologe Association of P.R.China was held in Beijing, China. |
| 2003 | *The 2nd executive meeting of the Japan China Horological Association's Interchange was held in Tokyo, Japan. *The JCWA attended the meeting for the ISO technical committee-horology(ISO/TC114), which was held in Neuchatel, Switzerland. *The 2nd Intellectual Property rights meeting between the JCWA and Horologe Association of P.R.China was held in Beijing, China. |
| 2004 | * The 3rd executive meeting of the Japan China Horological Association's Interchange was held in Xian, P.R. China. * The 3rd Intellectual Property rights meeting between the JCWA and Horologe Association of P.R.China was held in Shanghai, P.R. China. * The JCWA participated in the 15th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference in Singapore. * The 2nd technical meeting for standardization of watches and clocks between the JCWA and Horologe Association of P.R.China was held in Xian, P.R. China. *The JCWA donated clocks to the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake Victims through the Niigata Prefecture Emergency Taskforce Headquarters. |
| 2005 | * The 4th executive meeting of the Japan China Horological Association's Interchange was held in Tokyo, Japan. * The JCWA attended the meeting for the ISO technical committee-horology(ISO/TC114), which was held in Seoul, Korea * According to EU Directive on WEEE, member countries started to legislate against waste electrical and electronic equipments. * Eco-Mark Certification Criteria was newly set up for watches and clocks. |
| 2006 | * The 4th Intellectual Property Rights meeting between the JCWA and China Horologe Association was held in Shenzhen, P.R. China. * The 3rd technical meeting for standardization of watches and clocks between the JCWA and China Horologe Association was held in Xian, P.R. China. * According to EU Directive on RoHS(Restriction of the use of Hazardous Sabstances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment), the relative law was enforced in member countries(July). * The JCWA attended the WG meeting for the ISO technical committee-horology(ISO/TC114), which was held in Bienne, Switzerland. * The JCWA hosted the 16th Asian Horological Trade & Industry Promotion Conference. |
| 2007 | * The 5th executive meeting of the Japan China Horological Association's Interchange was held in Hainan Island, China. * The JCWA attended the meeting for the ISO technical committee-horology(ISO/TC114), which was held in Dinard, France. * The 5th Intellectual Property Rights meeting between the JCWA and China Horologe Association was held in Shanghai, China. |
| 2008 | * The JCWA celebrated its 60th anniversary. * The JCWA participated in the 17th Asian Horological Trade and Industry Promotion Conference at Chongqing in China. * All the JCWA member companies have achieved total abolition of CHC(Chlorofluorocarbon) and Chlorinated Organic Solvent, in Japan. * The global financial crisis started in September and the following business recession forced the JCWA members into adjustment of production. |
| 2009 | * The JCWA attended the meeting for the ISO technical committee-horology(ISO/TC114), which was held at Shenzhen, China in July. * The 6th Intellectual Property Rights meeting between the JCWA and China Horologe Association was held at Guangzhou, China in July. |
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