Below traces the steps of Iwatani’s more than 90-year history since its founding in 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
1930
Iwatani Naoji Shoten founded
Sales of oxygen, welding rods and carbide begin
1945
Iwatani Corporation established
Founder Naoji Iwatani named President
1953
First in Japan to launch nationwide sales of propane gas for household use
Sales of rutile sand (a coating material) begin
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
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
Sales of Cassette-Feu, Japan’s first hose-free cooking stove, begin
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
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
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)
1987
logo adopted
Sponsorship of NHK Symphony Orchestra begins
Shiga Technology Center opened
1988
Sales of MILLSER food mills begin
1989
Dalian Iwatani Gas Machinery Co., Ltd. established as joint venture with the City of Dalian, China
1991
Launch of the Pacific Century, the first company-owned LPG tanker
1993
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
The MaruiGas Disaster Relief Corps formed in response to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
2000
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
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
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
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
Work begins on disaster-resistant Core LPG Centers
Sales of eco-friendly bio-PET resins begin
Sourcing of helium from Qatar begins
2014
Iwatani Hydrogen Refueling Station Amagasaki, Japan’s first commercial hydrogen station, begins operating
2016
Entry into retail electricity business
2017
Track and Field Team established and Hisakazu Hirose appointed head coach
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
2021
Iwatani GateWay service begins
“Demonstration project for the commercialization of liquefied hydrogen supply chain” selected as NEDO’s Green Innovation Fund
2022
Demonstration voyage completed on maritime transport between Japan and Australia for hydrogen sourced from coal
2023
Iwatani Technology and Safety University established as an in-house university
1st place in Princess Ekiden, 8th place in Queen’s Ekiden
2024
Acquires shares of Cosmo Energy Holdings Co., Ltd., making it an equity method affiliate
The hydrogen fuel cell ship Mahoroba completed
Construction of the Kobe Training Facility completed
