History

• 1938

  • Personal manufacturing and sales of fountain pens

• 1950

  • Skater Pen Co., Ltd. is established.

• 1964

  • Plastics division established

• 1972

  • Started manufacturing and selling plastic household products

• 1974

  • Company name changed to Skater Co., Ltd.

• 1982

  • Launch of the women's brand "Casmin"
  • Received an award from the Governor of Osaka Prefecture for industrial promotion.

• 1983

  • First preview held

• 1984

  • Concluded a copyright contract with Sanrio Co., Ltd.
  • The second preview was held, and the transition to an annual event was made.
  • Ryoichi Konoike appointed president

• 1986

  • Overseas production begins (Taiwan) and Tokyo sales office opens
  • Contract with Determinant Productions Co., Ltd. (Snoopy)

• 1989

  • Fukuoka Sales Office Opened

• 1990

  • New head office and distribution center completed

• 1993

  • Mail order and gift divisions are separated and strengthened as sales divisions.
  • Concluded a copyright contract with Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

• 1994

  • Expanded into China (Dongguan) as an overseas production base
  • Concluded a copyright contract with Tomy Co., Ltd. (now Takara Tomy Co., Ltd.)

• 1998

  • Expanded into Shanghai as an overseas base
  • AprilTokyo sales office relocated (Kuramae, Taito-ku)
  • AprilComputer replaced with ACOS7300 (Year 2000 compatible)
  • AprilCapital increase to 6,500 10,000 yen

• 1999

  • AprilChange fiscal year end to February
  • AprilCapital increased to 6,900 million yen

• 2000

  • AprilIncreased capital to 8,000 million yen, established overseas base in Xiamen

• 2001

  • Merchandising rights business started

• 2002

  • The 20th Preview Event (New Product Announcement Event) was held

• 2003

  • At the 22nd Plastic Daily Goods Excellent Product Competition
    Cook Zen won the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Manufacturing Industry Bureau Director-General's Award
  • AprilMerged with Casmin Co., Ltd.

• 2005

  • AprilDongguan sales office opened

• 2006

  • AprilEstablished Shanghai Skaida Household Goods Trading Co., Ltd. (Shanghai Skater Co., Ltd.)
  • AprilConcluded a copyright contract with Walt Disney Japan Co., Ltd.

• 2009

  • April(New) Tawaramoto Distribution Center completed
  • AprilFlorium Co., Ltd. is established
  • AprilSkater Korea (Korea Skater Co., Ltd.) established

• 2013

  • AprilReceived an award for excellent reporting from the Ikuno Tax Office.

• 2014

  • AprilSolar power plant opens

• 2015

  • April
    Sales building completed. New sales department and new showroom established.
    65th anniversary of company establishment, 25th anniversary of relocation of head office to Nara
    The 33rd Skater Preview Event will be held at the new showroom.
  • April Skater Co., Ltd. Fukuoka Sales Office (Tsunaba-cho, Hakata-ku) relocated

• 2016

  • AprilTaiwan office opened

• 2017

  • April
    Soichiro Konoike appointed President and CEO
    Ryoichi Koike appointed Chairman and Representative Director
    Selected as a regional future driving company by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

• 2018

  • AprilThe first Spring/Summer in-house business meeting was held (Head office, Tokyo, Fukuoka)
  • Since then, it has been held every year

• 2021

  • AprilSkater Co., Ltd. Tokyo office relocated (Shinjuku-ku, Shin-Ogawa-cho)
  • Skater Co., Ltd. Fukuoka Sales Office (Hakata-ku, Hakata Station) relocated

• 2024

  • April Florium Co., Ltd.
    New logistics center (Yamatokoriyama City, Hachijo-cho) completed