History -
Corporate

Conducted an absorption-type merger with Bandai Namco Amusement Inc. as the surviving company and Pleasure Cast Co., Ltd. as the absorbed company.

Conducted an absorption-type company split with Bandai Namco Amusement Inc. as the splitting company and Bandai Namco Experience Inc. as the succeeding company and Bandai Namco Experience became a business management company for the Amusement Unit.

Established Bandai Namco Filmworks America, LLC.

Conducted an absorption-type merger with Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. as the surviving company and Bandai Namco Online Inc. as the absorbed company.

Appointed Masaru Kawaguchi as chairman and Yuji Asako as president and representative director of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.

Established Bandai Namco Experience Inc.

Changed name of Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. to Bandai Namco Holdings Europe S.A.S. (BNHE) Changed name of BNHE subsidiary Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S., thereby separating operating company function and holding company function in Europe.

Bandai Namco Group joined in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry’s GX League.

Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. turned Eightbit co., Ltd., an animation production company, into a wholly owned subsidiary.

Established Bandai Namco Base Inc., which will operate and manage concert hall facilities planned to open in Shibuya, Tokyo, in spring of 2026.

Formulated the Bandai Namco Group Human Rights Policy, which formalizes the Group’s approach and initiatives toward human rights.

Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc. made echoes Inc., which produces digital contents such as vertical scrolling comics, a wholly owned subsidiary.

A share split with a ratio of three shares for every one share of common stock was implemented by Bandai Namco Holdings Inc.

BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD., made SUNRISE INC. (currently,Bandai Namco Nui Inc.), a manufacturer of stuffed toys,into a subsidiary.

Bandai Namco Europe S.A.S. made Limbic Entertainment GmbH, which conducts game development, etc., into a subsidiary.

Bandai Namco Aces Inc. is established.

Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. transitioned from the First Section to the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) due to restructuring of the TSE.

Music business of BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc.(producer of music and other live events),BANDAI NAMCO Live Creative Inc., and SUNRISE Music INC. merged into Bandai Namco Music Live Inc.

SUNRISE INC. (video production company), BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc.’s film production business,and BANDAI NAMCO Rights Marketing Inc. merged into Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.

Established Bandai Namco’s Purpose “Fun for All into the Future” as the ultimate definition of the Group and redesigned the corporate logo.

BANDAI AMERICA INC. and BANDAI NAMCO Collectibles LLC merged and renamed as Bandai Namco Toys and Collectibles America.

BANDAI NAMCO Toys & Hobby (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.,merged into BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.

BANDAI NAMCO Holdings France S.A.S. and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S. merged into BANDAI NAMCO Europe S.A.S.

Formulated the Bandai Namco Group Sustainability Policy.

Masaru Kawaguchi became the president and representative director of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.

Completed new building at BANDAI Hobby Center,a manufacturing base for plastic models.

Reflector Entertainment Ltd., which develops home video game titles, was made a subsidiary of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

SOTSU CO., LTD., became a wholly owned subsidiary.

BANDAI made HEART CORPORATION a wholly owned subsidiary.

BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. was selected as a component issue for the TOPIX 100.

SHUEISHA BANDAI NAMCO (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD., was established as a joint venture by BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. and Shueisha Inc.

BANDAI NAMCO Mobile S.L. was established in Spain to handle development and marketing of mobile content for Europe and the Americas.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc. acquired the management rights of the Shimane Susanoo Magic, a professional basketball team in the B.LEAGUE.

BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc. was selected as a component issue for the Nikkei 225.

Company name of SUNRISE MUSIC Publishing Co., Ltd.,changed to SUNRISE Music INC.

Establishment of BANDAI NAMCO Sevens Inc. and BANDAI NAMCO Research Inc.

Implementation of absorption-type merger with PLEX Co., Ltd., as the surviving company and WiZ Co., Ltd.,as the expiring company.

Implementation of absorption-type merger with BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD., as the surviving company and BANPRESTO CO., LTD., as the expiring company.

Establishment of SUNRISE BEYOND INC., an animation production company.

Establishment of business bases in Shanghai, China, by the Toys and Hobby Business, the Real Entertainment Business, and the IP Creation Business.

Establishment of the BANDAI NAMCO Content Fund.

Establishment of BANDAI NAMCO Network Services Inc.and BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Lab Inc.

Establishment of BANDAI NAMCO Collectibles LLC to strengthen business in toys for the mature fan base in North America.

Grand-Slam merged into BANDAI NAMCO Live Creative.

BANDAI VISUAL merged with Lantis. Company name was changed to BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc.

Amusement machine business division of BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment transferred to NAMCO LIMITED. Name of NAMCO LIMITED was changed to BANDAI NAMCO Amusement Inc.

BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD., established to take over the mature fan base business of BANDAI and the lotteryrelated and new businesses of BANPRESTO (businesses transferred in April).

Establishment of regional headquarters BANDAI NAMCO Holdings CHINA CO., LTD., in China.

BANDAI VISUAL made Actas Inc. a subsidiary.

Established BANDAI NAMCO Technica Inc.

Started a new system that separates the operating company function and the holding company function in Europe.

Masaya Nakamura, the founder of NAMCO, passed away on January 22 at the age of 91.

WiZ Co., Ltd., was made a subsidiary.

Implemented reorganization in Asia. BANDAI NAMCO Holdings ASIA CO., LTD., became the regional headquarters.

The headquarters functions of five Group companies,including BANDAI NAMCO Holdings, were relocated to Minato-ku, Tokyo, in stages.

BANDAI NAMCO INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED was established.

At BANDAI NAMCO Holdings, Shukuo Ishikawa became chairman and representative director and Mitsuaki Taguchi became president and representative director.

BANDAI NAMCO Live Creative made Grand-Slam Ltd.a subsidiary.

Division producing IP products for children and families was separated from SUNRISE to establish BANDAI NAMCO Pictures INC.

Name of BANDAI NAMCO Games was changed to BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

BANDAI NAMCO (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD., was established in Shanghai, China.

The English-language name of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings was changed to BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.

The English-language names of 31 Group companies were changed.

BANDAI made SUN-STAR STATIONERY a subsidiary.

NAMCO BANDAI Studios Vancouver Inc. and NAMCO BANDAI Studios Singapore Pte. Ltd. were established.

BANDAI PHILIPPINES INC. was established.

The Content Development Division was separated from NAMCO BANDAI Games, and NAMCO BANDAI Studios Inc. was established.

Shukuo Ishikawa became president and representative director of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings, and Kazunori Ueno became executive vice president and representative director.

Banpresoft Co., Ltd., and Bec Co., Ltd., merged to form B.B.STUDIO CO., LTD.

NAMCO BANDAI Live Creative Inc. was established.

BANDAI CORPORACION MEXICO S.A. de C.V. was established in Mexico.

NAMCO BANDAI Online Inc. was established.

NAMCO BANDAI Partners S.A.S. was made a wholly owned subsidiary.

BANDAI VISUAL and ANIME CHANNEL merged, with BANDAI VISUAL as the surviving company and ANIME CHANNEL as the expiring company.

NAMCO BANDAI Games and BANDAI NETWORKS merged, with NAMCO BANDAI Games as the surviving company and BANDAI NETWORKS as the expiring company.HANNEL as the expiring company.

Takeo Takasu was appointed chairman and representative director, and Shukuo Ishikawa was appointed president and representative director of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings.

NAMCO BANDAI Games made D3PUBLISHER INC.a subsidiary.

Seika Co., Ltd., which conducted stationery operations, was liquidated following a capital and business alliance with SUN-STAR STATIONERY CO., LTD.

BANDAI (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD., was established for the purpose of strengthening toy production control and quality assurance.

The administrative functions of major companies in the Group were consolidated into NAMCO BANDAI Holdings.

The home video game consoles and amusement machine operations of BANPRESTO were transferred to and integrated with the operations of NAMCO BANDAI Games. BANPRESTO focuses on prize operations, such as prizes for amusement machines.

BANDAI VISUAL and BANDAI NETWORKS became wholly owned subsidiaries of NAMCO BANDAI Holdings,following an exchange of shares.

NAMCO BANDAI Holdings entered a capital and business alliance with TOEI COMPANY, LTD., TOEI ANIMATION CO.,LTD., and KADOKAWA GROUP HOLDINGS INC.

In Europe, NAMCO Holdings UK LTD. was established as a regional holding company and the perating companies were reorganized.

BANDAI made CCP Co., Ltd., a subsidiary.

NAMCO BANDAI Holdings made BANPRESTO a wholly owned subsidiary.

NAMCO BANDAI Will Inc. was certified as a special subsidiary as stipulated by Japan’s Law for Employment, Promotion, etc., of the Disabled.

Music company Lantis Co., Ltd., joined the Group.

NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. was established through the integration of BANDAI’s home video game operations and NAMCO’s home video game, amusement machine, and mobile phone game operations.

The facility operation business was given to a remerged NAMCO.

The BANDAI Hobby Center, a production base for plastic models, was opened in Shizuoka Prefecture.

BANDAI VISUAL was listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

NAMCO BANDAI Holdings made BANDAI LOGIPAL a wholly owned subsidiary.

North American operations were reorganized. The name of NAMCO Holding was changed to NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA), whichbecame the U.S. regional holding company.

Through a corporate separation, a portion of BANDAI’s and NAMCO’s management over affiliated companies was transferred to NAMCO BANDAI Holdings.

Establishment of holding company NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. through the management integration of BANDAI and NAMCO. Takeo Takasu became president and representative director. Establishment of the BANDAI NAMCO Group.

The management integration of BANDAI and NAMCO was announced.

Shigeichi Ishimura was appointed president and representative director.

New headquarters building completed.

Established NAMCO TALES STUDIO LTD., a home video game development company.

BANDAI VISUAL listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

BANDAI NETWORKS listed on JASDAQ.

Entered the building block market through cooperation with Mega Bloks Inc., the world’s second-largest manufacturer of toy building blocks.

Invested in confectionery manufacturer Tohato Inc.

Name of Yutaka Co., Ltd., was changed to Popy Co., Ltd.

Tsukuda Original and Wakui Corporation implemented a management integration and the company name was changed to Palbox Co., Ltd.

Kyushiro Takagi was appointed president and representative director.

BANPRESTO listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Capital tie-up with Tsukuda Original.

BANDAI CHANNEL CO., LTD., established as an on-demand online distribution company.

BANDAI VISUAL listed on JASDAQ.

BHK TRADING LTD. established.

Established Namco Ecolotec Limited to conduct development of environmental machines.

BANPRESTO CO., LTD., listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Network Department spun off from BANDAI to establish BANDAI NETWORKS CO., LTD.

Invested in Sotsu Agency (currently, SOTSU CO., LTD.).

Character Research Institute established.

Network Department established.

BANDAI KOREA CO., LTD., established in South Korea.

HAPPINET CORPORATION listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Proposed barrier-free entertainment designs. Entered nursing care business with the aim of combining the themes of “play” and “welfare.”

Established Monolith Software Inc., a home video game development company.

Concluded agreement with Mattel, of the U.S., regarding joint business development (contract covering the Japanese market canceled in December 2003).

Takeo Takasu was appointed president and representative director.

HAPPINET CORPORATION listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Established XS ENTERTAINMENT INC. to manage multipurpose amusement facilities in the North American market.

Founder Naoharu Yamashina passed away (October 28, age 79).

HAPPINET CORPORATION offered its stock on the over-the-counter market (currently, the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange).

Group companies Kaken, Angel, and B-I merged to establish MegaHouse Corporation.

Takashi Mogi was appointed president and representative director.

Established subsidiaries in Spain, France, Germany,and Israel.

Bandai Trading (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., established in Shanghai.

Three companies established in the U.S.—BANDAI HOLDING CORP., BANDAI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CORP., and BANDAI ENTERTAINMENT INC.

Technical Design Center (Tochigi) went into operation.

Established NAMCO CYBERTAINMENT INC. through the merger of two NAMCO Group companies in the U.S.

Opened Yokohama Creative Center, a development base, in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City.

SUNRISE INC. became a Group company

Established Shanghai Namco Ltd. as a joint venture in China.

Acquired Aladdin’s Castle, Inc., the largest amusement facility operator in the U.S.

Established NAMCO OPERATIONS EUROPE LTD., in the U.K.

Established Brent Leisure Ltd. to strengthen manufacturing in Europe and sales in the U.K.

BANDAI’s visual products business transferred to BANDAI VISUAL CO., LTD.

Name of Bandai Transport was changed to BANDAI LOGIPAL INC.

Established NAMCO EUROPE LTD., in London, U.K.

Stock listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Capital: ¥6,984 million.

Tosho, Dairin, and Seiko merged to establish HAPPINET CORPORATION.

Bandai (Taiwan) Co., Ltd., established as local company in Taiwan.

Established Namco Hometek Inc. as a U.S. base for home video games.

Established Namco Hometek Inc. as a U.S. base for home video games.

NAMCO AMERICA INC. acquired Atari Operations Inc. Commenced amusement facility operations in the U.S.

Bandai Transport registered on the over-the-counter market (currently, JASDAQ).

Name of Shinsei Manufacturing was changed to Yutaka Co., Ltd.

Advanced into the music field (launch of the Emotion label).

Completed head office building in Komagata,Taito-ku, Tokyo.

BANDAI listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Media Department established. Made full-scale entry into the visual products business.

Established Yokohama Future Laboratory in Yokohama City.

NAMCO stock listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Capital: ¥5,550 million.

Contract signed with The Walt Disney Company. Video products launched.

Chairman Naoharu Yamashina was appointed executive advisor.

Quick Curl launched. Entered the field of practical lifestyle sundries.

Joint venture firm BANDAI AND K.C. CO., LTD.,established in Thailand.

Established the New Technology Foundation with the objective of fostering the development of science and technology.

Entered the movie field by cooperating in the production of The Baby Elephant.

BANDAI listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Capital: ¥240 million.

New headquarters building completed in Ota-ku, Tokyo.

Advanced into the Chinese market with the establishment of a Japan–China joint venture firm,China Fuman (Fujian) Toys Co., Ltd., in Fujian Province,China.

Fuman (H.K.) Co., Ltd., established in Hong Kong.

Apparel Department established.

Corporate identity introduced. New BANDAI philosophy established—“Dreams and Creation.”

Absorption-type merger of seven companies—Popy, Bandai Models, Bandai Manufacturing, Bandai Overseas, Mameet,Celent, and Bandai Publishing.Capital increased to ¥711.39 million.

Emotion Ltd. established. Opened Emotion video shop, the first video shop authorized by the Japan Video Software Association.

Frontier Department established as planning and production unit for animations and films.

BANDAI UK LTD. established in the U.K.

Established the IP Rights Department. Began full-scale initiatives to protect in-house copyrights.

Entered the candy toy market.

BANDAI FRANCE S.A. established as sales base in Europe.

Celent established.

Tonka Japan changed its company name to Mameet.

Makoto Yamashina was appointed president and representative director, and Naoharu Yamashina was appointed chairman.

B-I Electronics and B-I Mibu established.

BANDAI AMERICA INCORPORATED established as U.S. sales base.

Bandai Publishing established.

Established NAMCO AMERICA INC. in California, U.S.

BANDAI (H.K.) CO., LTD., established as overseas manufacturing base in Hong Kong.

Started sales of capsule toys through vending machines.

NAMCO ENTERPRISES ASIA LTD. established.

Changed company name to NAMCO LIMITED.

Established Popy Mibu factory.

Published Ugoku E-Hon and entered the publishing industry.

Trademark and logo changed.Expressed the dramatic combined worldwide growth of nine BANDAI Group companies.

Acquired Atari (Japan) Corp. from Atari Corp., of the U.S. Entered the video game business.

Use of NAMCO brand name began.

Established Popy as a specialist character toys manufacturer.

Bandai Models established.

Established Yaguchi plant in Yaguchi, Ota-ku, Tokyo.

Tonka Japan established.

Acquisition of plant in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.Start of production of plastic models, such as the Automobile series, Thunderbirds 2, and the Beetle series.

Customer service center established.

Opened Osaka office in Namba, Osaka.

New Model Toys Department launched sales of plastic models.

Bandai Automobile established.

Established main production facility in Ota-ku, Tokyo. Expanded activities of development and production departments.

Due to growth of operations, moved to new office building in Komagata 1-chome, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo.

Assigned representative to New York and began sales in the U.S.

Bandai Transport was established.

Company name was changed to BANDAI. Paid-in capital was ¥20 million.

Name of Waraku Works was changed to BC Manufacturing. (Name was changed to BANDAI Manufacturing in May 1966.)

Bandai Toys Company established (transferred to Bandai Overseas Supply in 1971).

Direct overseas sales started.

Reorganized to form Nakamura Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Capital:¥5 million.

Trademark (commonly known as the Banzai mark) was established to express the motto that quality is the highest priority.

Headquarters office established in Ginza, Tokyo. Started sales of amusement machines.

The BC logo was created by combining the first letters in BANDAI Company.

Office building newly constructed in Komagata 2-chome, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo.

Waraku Works (predecessor of BANDAI Manufacturing) was established.

Transport Division (predecessor of BANDAI LOGIPAL INC.) was established.

A research unit was established to improve the quality of BANDAI brand metallic toys and to conduct R&D in new products.

Accompanying the expansion of export operations,shipment and warehouse facilities were newly established in Komagata, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo.

Export sales commenced.

Bandaiya was founded in the Kikuyabashi section of Asakusa in Taito-ku, Tokyo (President: Naoharu Yamashina). Paid-in capital was ¥1 million. The company conducted sales of celluloid toys as well as metallic toys (passenger cars), rubber swimming rings, etc.