History：1868 - 1944
From Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Works to Dainippon Screen
Copper-plate engraving to photography
SCREEN’s history begins in 1868 with the founding of the Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Works lithographic printing shop by copper-plate engraver Saijiro Ishida. Saijiro’s successor, Keizo Ishida, endeavored to advance Japan’s printing technology by domestically producing glass screens for photographic reproduction—at the time, Japan depended entirely on imports of these plates from Europe and the United States. Years of research led to a patent, and in 1937 Keizo split off the Glass Screen Research Division from Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Works, establishing Dainippon Screen Mfg. Works. The following year, the new company became the first in Japan to successfully manufacture square glass screens. It was this company, Dainippon Screen Mfg. Works, that would evolve directly into Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. and eventually become the current SCREEN Group.
| 1868 | Copper-plate engraver Saijiro Ishida founds Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Works |
|---|---|
| 1918 | The research of Saijiro’s successor, Keizo Ishida (later the first president of Dainippon Screen Mfg. Works), leads to the manufacture and patenting of Ishida Method Transfer Lithographic Film, a transparent film letterpress for lithographic transfer |
| 1934 | Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Co., Ltd. (now Shashin Kagaku Co., Ltd.) is established |
| Patent for a method of engraving glass screens for photographic reproduction is obtained; glass screens for photographic reproduction are successfully produced in Japan | |
| 1937 | Glass Screen Research Division is split off from Ishida Kyokuzan Printing Works to establish Dainippon Screen Mfg. Works |
| 1943 | Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd. is spun off and incorporated as an independent company, headed by Keizo Ishida |