Our History

Below traces the steps of Iwatani’s more than 90-year history since its founding in 1930

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Since 1930

Iwatani got its start when founder Naoji Iwatani established Iwatani Naoji Shoten in Minato-ku, Osaka, Japan, and began selling oxygen, welding rods, and carbide

History of Iwatani

1930

Iwatani Naoji Shoten founded

Sales of oxygen, welding rods and carbide begin

1941

Sales of hydrogen begin

1945

Iwatani Corporation established

Founder Naoji Iwatani named President

1952

Sales of synthetic resins begin

1953

  • Integrated Energy Business

First in Japan to launch nationwide sales of propane gas for household use

Sales of rutile sand (a coating material) begin

1958

In-house production of hydrogen gas begins

1960

Import and sale of brooder poultry farming equipment begins

1962

Shares listed on second section of Osaka Securities Exchange (in August) and Tokyo Stock Exchange (in December)

1964

  • Integrated Energy Business

Marui Propane supplied for Tokyo Olympic Torch

1965

Shares listed on first sections of Osaka Securities Exchange and Tokyo Stock Exchange (both in April)

1969

  • Gas Cartridge Business

Sales of Cassette-Feu, Japan’s first hose-free cooking stove, begin

  • Integrated Energy Business

Sales of MIHARI gas leak alarms begin

1972

Designated a friendly trading company by China; start of full-scale trading with China

1974

Sales of frozen foods begin

1975

Cold Air Products Ltd. established

Entry into the field of industrial gas production

1976

Sales begin of easy dispensing I-WRAP plastic bags

1977

Agency agreement concluded with Yaskawa Electric Manufacturing (now Yaskawa Electric Corporation); first sales of welding robots

1978

Operations commence at Japan’s first large-scale commercial liquid hydrogen production plant

1980

  • Integrated Energy Business

Start of direct imports from major gas-producing countries

Sakai LPG Terminal completed as base for LPG imports

1982

Establishment of Iwatani Camborough Co, Ltd.; agreement concluded with Pig Improvement Company (PIC)

1985

Business partnership formed with Union Carbide Corporation

1987

logo adopted


Sponsorship of NHK Symphony Orchestra begins

Shiga Technology Center opened

1988

  • Gas Cartridge Business

Sales of MILLSER food mills begin

1989

Dalian Iwatani Gas Machinery Co., Ltd. established as joint venture with the City of Dalian, China

1991

  • Integrated Energy Business

Launch of the Pacific Century, the first company-owned LPG tanker

1993

  • Integrated Energy Business

Marui Propane rebranded on its 40th anniversary

1994

Kashima LPG Joint Stockpiling Base and Kitsuregawa Separate Gas Plant air-gas production facility begin operating

1995

  • Integrated Energy Business

The MaruiGas Disaster Relief Corps formed in response to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

1997

Doral Mineral Industries Ltd. (of Australia) acquired

2000

  • Integrated Energy Business

Entry into the LNG sales business in partnership with electric power companies

2002

Completion of Japan’s first full-scale hydrogen-refueling station in Torishima, Osaka

2004

  • Integrated Energy Business

Entry into the water delivery business with Natural Mineral Water from Mt. Fuji

2006

Hydroedge Co., Ltd. commences operation of one of the world’s largest liquid hydrogen production plants

First Iwatani Hydrogen Energy Forum

2009

  • Integrated Energy Business

Saudi Aramco-Iwatani Emergency LP Gas Relief Program established

Eastern Japan’s first liquid hydrogen production plant opens at the Chiba Plant of Iwatani Industrial Gases Corporation

2010

Iwatani Special sponsor of the Japan International Birdman Rally 2010. A team from Iwatani competes in the glider category

Osaka Helium Center begins operating

2011

Companywide response to the Great East Japan Earthquake includes urgent shipment of relief supplies (e.g., portable gas cooking stoves and cassette gas canisters)

2012

  • Integrated Energy Business

Work begins on disaster-resistant Core LPG Centers

Sales of eco-friendly bio-PET resins begin

2013

Completion of Iwatani R&D Center as new technological center

Sourcing of helium from Qatar begins

2014

Iwatani Hydrogen Refueling Station Amagasaki, Japan’s first commercial hydrogen station, begins operating

2015

Sales of PKS biomass fuel begin

2016

  • Integrated Energy Business

Entry into retail electricity business

2017

Track and Field Team established and Hisakazu Hirose appointed head coach

  • Integrated Energy Business

Entry into city gas retail business

2018

Joins Japan H2 Mobility, LLC (JHyM), a network of hydrogen-refueling stations

2019

Completion of Tokyo Helium Center, one of Japan’s largest helium filling capacities, and start of operations

Acquisition of hydrogen-refueling stations and start of operations at four locations in California

2020

Joins Japan Hydrogen Association as co-representative member

2021

  • Integrated Energy Business

Iwatani GateWay service begins

“Demonstration project for the commercialization of liquefied hydrogen supply chain” selected as NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund

©Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

2022

Demonstration voyage completed on maritime transport between Japan and Australia for hydrogen sourced from coal