Our History Since 1896
For more than 130 years, azuma has grown together with its customers, communities, and employees.
Explore the history of azuma and discover the people and stories that
have shaped our journey through the years.
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1896
Hanjiro Yamashita founded “Yamashita Shoten” in Hamamatsu.
*left: Hanjiro Yamashita
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1910
Established a household goods manufacturing division.
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1926
A scene from Yamashita Shoten
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1941
Established Hamamatsu Daiyo Palm Co., Ltd. to manufacture garden brooms using bamboo fiber substitutes.
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1954
Received a utility model registration for a new manufacturing method used in traditional indoor brooms designed for tatami flooring.
The azuma-Hoki broom brand gained nationwide recognition.
Established Yamabayashi Shokai Co., Ltd. and succeeded Yamashita Shoten.
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1955
Began contract farming of broom grass, the material used in traditional indoor brooms, in the Lake Hamana region.
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1958
Began contract farming of broom grass in Kumamoto.
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1961
Established the azuma Kai network, uniting more than 20,000 retail partners across Japan.
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1962
Employees on a company hiking trip.
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1963
Family Appreciation Gathering
Background:
A gathering held to thank the parents of our employees, introduce them to the company, and celebrate the growth and achievements of their sons and daughters.
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1966
Established azuma Industrial Co., Ltd.
Succeeded the business of Yamabayashi Shokai Co., Ltd.
Adopted “azuma” as the company name, inspired by the well-known azuma-Hoki broom brand.
Expanded into the mass retail market.
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1967
Received the Pearl Award at the International Home Show, organized by The Asahi Shimbun Company, for the Azlon Mop.
An Azlon Mop was graciously purchased by Her Imperial Highness Princess Hitachi.
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1968
Organized a bus trip for children with disabilities.
Began cultivating and producing materials for indoor brooms in Indonesia.
Introduced the Witch Girl mark, which would become a familiar symbol of azuma products for many years.
Illustration: First Witch Girl mark
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1969
Opened the Iwata Nakano Factory.
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1975
Promotional activities in the 1970s.
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1977
Declared a policy of not using CFCs.
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1979
Opened the Head Office Plant.
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1981
Entered the mail-order market.
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1988
Opened the Ryuyo Distribution Center.
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1989
Exhibiting at a trade show.
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1990
Held the first azuma Cup High School Invitational Tennis Championship.
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1991
Held the first azuma Cup High School Invitational Soft Tennis Championship.
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1993
Employees on a company trip.
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1995
Employees at a company golf tournament.
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1996
Celebrated the 100th anniversary of the company's founding and the 40th anniversary of its incorporation.
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2000
Obtained ISO 14001 certification.
Green Gathacle Wiper received the EcoLife Lake Biwa Award.
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2004
Entered the home cleaning services market.
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2006
Adopted a self-declaration of conformity for ISO 14001.
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2012
Expanded home cleaning services nationwide.
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2015
Opened the azuma Cleaning Academy to train home cleaning professionals.
Launched a project to revive the cultivation of broom grass in Japan for the first time in half a century.
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2016
Celebrated the 120th anniversary of the company's founding and the 60th anniversary of its incorporation.
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2019
Opened the Iwata Hitokoto Factory.
Launched a franchise network for azuma Home Cleaning Services.