History

2025

Feb

The Imperial Theatre temporarily closed for redevelopment.

Jun

KOKUHO was released (broke a new box‑office record for live‑action films[20.27billion yen]) *As of February 27, 2026

Dec

To‑Smile Co., Ltd. established as a joint venture with Good Smile Company, Inc.

Dec

TOHO Europe Limited was established by TOHO Global Inc.

Dec

Anime Limited became an owned subsidiary of TOHO Europe Limited

Dec

Annual box‑office revenue record is broken [143.8 billion yen]

2024

Jan

TOKYO RAKUTENCHI co.,ltd. became an owned subsidiary

Mar

GODZILLA MINUS ONE won the 96th Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects

May

The stage production of Spirited Away opens in London

Jun

Science SARU Inc. became an owned subsidiary

Jun

DRAGONFRY ENTERTAINMENT, INC. became an owned subsidiary of TOHO Studios Co., Ltd.

Oct

GKIDS, INC. became an owned subsidiary of Toho International, Inc.

Nov

Singapore subsidiary Toho Entertainment Asia Pte. Ltd. begins operations

Nov

Japan's first commercial use of hydrogen‑generated electricity begins at Toho Studios

Dec

Annual box‑office revenue record is broken [91.3 billion yen]

2023

Mar

TOHO Hibiya Promenade Building opens

Mar

TOHO Tombo Pictures, Inc. was established

Jul

TOHO Global Inc. was established

Aug

gaie Inc. became an owned subsidiary

Sep

EISHIN KOUGEI Co., Ltd.became an owned subsidiary of TOHO STAGE CRAFT Co.Ltd.

Oct

The Tokyo exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Hankyu Hanshin Toho group founder Ichizo Kobayashi (1873‑1957) was held.

Nov

GODZILLA MINUS ONE was released

Nov

TOHO Global Inc. signed a capital and business alliance agreement with IGLOO STUDIO CO., LTD.

Dec

Toho International, Inc. made a strategic investment in CJ ENM FIFTH SEASON, LLC

2022

Sep

AID‑DCC Inc. became an owned subsidiary

Sep

TIA Inc. became an owned subsidiary and changed its name to TOHO animation STUDIO Inc.

2021

Jul

Godzilla vs. Kong was released in Japan

2020

Oct

Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train was released (new box-office record [40.43 billion yen])

2019

May

Godzilla: King of the Monsters was released

2018

Feb

Nihon Gekijo (TOHO Cinemas Nichigeki) closed

Mar

Nemu no Hiroba renewed as "Hibiya Godzilla Square"

Mar

TOHO Cinemas Hibiya opens

2017

Mar

Merger of TOHO real estate Co., Ltd.

2016

Jul

Shin Godzilla was released

Aug

Your Name. was released (broke a new box‑office record for in‑house productions [25.09 billion yen]) *As of December 2017

Dec

Annual box‑office revenue record is broken [85.4 billion yen]

2015

Mar

SHINJUKU TOHO BLDG. was completed

Nov

Sapporo Toho Kouraku Bldg. was completed

2014

Mar

Merger with Koma Stadium Co., Ltd.

May

GODZILLA the U.S. Legendary version, was released in the U.S.

Aug

Merger with Sanwa Kogyo Co., Ltd.

2013

Apr

Established the animation label Toho Animation and initiating full‑scale operations

Jun

TOHO real estate Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary

Oct

Toho‑Towa Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary

Dec

The Eternal Zero was released (broke a new box‑office record for in‑house productions [8.6 billion yen])

2012

Apr

Established Animation Business Division

2011

Feb

INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION FILMS, INC. became a wholly owned subsidiary

2010

Sep

Toho Studios Remodeling Project Completed

Dec

Annual box‑office revenue record is broken [74.8 billion yen]

2009

Aug

Merged with Sapporo Kouraku Kogyo Co., LTD. and Shintenchi Co., LTD.

2008

Mar

TOHO Cinemas LTD. merged with 4 box‑office companies (Toho Higashinihon Kogyo Co., Ltd., Chubu Toho Co., Ltd., Toho Kansai Kogyo Co., Ltd., and Kyushu Toho Co., Ltd.)

Sep

Koma Stadium Co., Ltd. became a consolidated subsidiary

Dec

Annual box‑office revenue record is broken [73.9 billion yen]

2007

Oct

Toho Theatre Creation Bldg. completed on the site of the former Toho Head Office Building

Nov

Theatre Creation opened

2006

Sep

Completion of the Toho Nangai Bldg. on the site of the former Nangai Kaikan

Oct

Movie theater chain division was spun off and transferred to TOHO Cinemas LTD.

2005

Mar

The Geijyutsuza closed due to reconstruction of the former Toho Head Office Building

Apr

Toho Head Office moved to Toho Hibiya Building

2004

Feb

Close of Nangai Kaikan

May

Crying Out Love in the Center of the World was released (setting a new box‑office record of 8.5 billion yen for a film produced by the company).

Dec

Sapporo Toho Bldg.(Sapporo Chanter) was completed

2003

Feb

Toho Studios begins remodeling project

Mar

Spirited Away won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature Film

Apr

Virgin Cinemas Japan Ltd. acquired and renamed TOHO Cinemas LTD.

Jul

Bayside Shakedown 2 was released (setting a new box‑office record for a live‑action film [17.3 billion yen])

2002

Feb

Spirited Away won the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival

2001

Jul

Spirited Away was released (new box‑office record [30.8 billion yen])

2000

Jun

Toho version of Elisabeth premiered (Imperial Theatre)

Nov

MILLENNIUM SHOCK was performed (Imperial Theatre)

Dec

Tokyo Takarazuka Bldg. was completed on the site of the former Tokyo Takarazuka Theater

1998

Jan

Closing of the former Tokyo Takarazuka Theater and the former Scala‑za

May

GODZILLA, the U.S. TriStar Pictures version, was released in the U.S.

Jul

Pokémon: The First Movie was released (first in the Pokémon series)

1997

Apr

Detective Conan: The Time Bombed Sky Scraper was released (the first film in the Detective Conan series)

Jul

Princess Mononoke was released (new distribution revenue record [11.3 billion yen])

1993

Jul

Crayon Shin‑chan: Action Mask vs. Leotard Devil was released (the first film in the Crayon Shin‑chan series)

1992

May

Miss Saigon premiered (Imperial Theatre: 1.5 year long run)

1991

Jul

Construction of Shibuto Cine Tower completed

1987

Jun

Les Misérables premiered in Japan

Oct

Toho Hibiya Bldg. (Hibiya Chanter) was completed on the site of the former Hibiya Movie Theater and Yurakuza (2nd generation)

1984

Jan

The 1st Toho Cinderella Birth (Yasuko Sawaguchi)

Mar

Nichigeki Music Hall closed

Oct

Yurakucho Center Bldg. (Mullion) completed on the site of the former Nihon Gekijo

Nov

Yurakuza (2nd generation) closed

1983

Feb

TV's Tsumiki Kuzushi (TBS affiliate) begins broadcasting

1981

Feb

Nihon Gekijo closed (Nichigeki Music Hall moved to the 5th floor of the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater)

1980

Oct

Navio Hankyu (now HEP Navio Bldg.) completed

Mar

Doraemon: Nobita's Dinosaur was released (the first in the Doraemon series)

May

Kagemusha won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival

1974

Oct

TV program Kizudarake no Tenshi (NTV affiliate) began broadcasting

1973

Mar

Received the Tony Award for Special International Prize (for Toho's theatrical activities)

Dec

Submersion of Japan released

1972

Jul

TV program Taiyō ni Hoero! (NTV affiliate) began broadcasting

1969

Apr

Man of La Mancha premiered (Imperial Theatre)

Oct

Construction of Shinjuku Plaza Theater completed

1967

Sep

Fiddler on the Roof premiere (Imperial Theatre)

1966

Jan

The first performance of Sasameyuki (Geijutsuza)

Sep

The New Imperial Theatre opened

1965

Mar

Tokyo Olympiad was released

Oct

Established Imperial Theatre Co., Ltd. for the construction of the new Imperial Theatre (merged with Toho Real Estate Co., Ltd. in July 1976)

Oct

TV program Seishun to wa nanda (NTV affiliate) began broadcasting

1963

Sep

My Fair Lady premiered at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater

1962

Jul

Irresponsible Era of Japan released (the first of the Free‑for‑All series)

1961

Jul

Sir Galahad in Campus was released (the first film of the Young Guy series)

Oct

Hourouki premiered (Geijutsuza)

Oct

Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the Osaka Securities Exchange, and the Nagoya Stock Exchange

1958

Feb

The 1st Western Carnival opens at Nihon Gekijo

Jul

The Hotelman's Holiday was released (the first film of the Station Front series)

Sep

The Rickshaw Man wins the Golden Lion (Grand Prix) at the Venice International Film Festival

1957

Apr

Completion of the former Toho head office building

Apr

Opening of Geijutsuza Theater

1956

Jan

The President's Boss was released (the first film of the President series)

Mar

Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto won an Honorary Mention at the U.S. Academy Awards® (currently the Best Foreign Language Film)

1955

Jul

Opened the Scala‑za on the 4th floor of the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater

Jul

Merger with Imperial Theatre Co., Ltd.

1954

Apr

SEVEN SAMURAI was released

Nov

Godzilla was released (the first in the Godzilla series)

1953

Dec

Nangai Kaikan completed

1952

Mar

Nichigeki Music Hall opened

1950

Jul

Established Imperial Theatre Co., Ltd.

1949

May

Listed on the Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya Stock Exchanges

1947

Mar

Separation of Tokyo Kaikan Co., Ltd.

1945

Mar

Merger of Umeda Eiga Gekijo Co., LTD. and Nangai Eiga Gekijo Co., LTD.

1943

Dec

Merged with Toho Eiga Co., Ltd. to engage in integrated management of film production, distribution, exhibition, and theatrical exhibition, and changed the company name to Toho Co., LTD.

1937

Mar

Merger with Toyoko Movie Theater Co., LTD.

Aug

Establishment of Toho Eiga Co., Ltd.

Nov

Toho Eiga Co., Ltd. merged with Photo Chemical Laboratory Co., Ltd., P.C.L., J. O. Studio, and Toho Pictures Distribution Co., LTD.

Dec

Merger with Imperial Theatre Co., LTD. (owned the former Tokyo Kaikan)

1936

Jan

Merger with Nihon Eiga Gekijo Co., LTD. (owned the former Nihon Gekijo)

Jun

Established Toho Film Distribution Co., LTD.

1935

Jun

Yurakuza (2nd generation) opened

1934

Jan

Former Tokyo Takarazuka Theater opened

Feb

Former Hibiya Movie Theater opened

1932

Aug

Tokyo Takarazuka Theater established (President: Ichizo Kobayashi)