1898 Foundation of JAPAN MONOPOLY BUREAU
1905 The state monopoly becomes the only cigarette producer and forbids all imports
1945 import ban gets lifted
1949 JAPAN MONOPOLY BUREAU becomes JAPAN TOBACCO AND SALT CORPORATION
1972 Introduction of side health warnings
1985 JAPAN TOBACCO AND SALT CORPORATION becomes a public company named JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
1999 JAPAN TOBACCO INC. acquires the non-U.S. international tobacco operations of RJR NABISCO INC. and names it's new overseas division JT INTERNATIONAL
2005 Introduction of front health warnings