Hoshiro Mitsunaga establishes Japan Advertising Ltd. and Telegraphic Service Co. (currently known as Dentsu).
1913
Dentsu contributes to the establishment of The Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association.
1951
Dentsu establishes the Radio Division at its Head Office and local offices. Commercial radio broadcasting begins in Japan.
1953
Dentsu establishes the Radio and Television Division at its Head Office and local offices. Commercial television broadcasting begins.
1955
The corporate name is changed to Dentsu Inc.
1959
Dentsu establishes the Marketing Department and promotes the introduction of marketing. Dentsu establishes its New York Office.
1964
Dentsu contributes to the support of the Tokyo Olympic Games.
1970
Dentsu contributes to the support of Osaka Expo ’70.
1974
The US-based magazine Advertising Age ranks Dentsu the No. 1 advertising agency worldwide in terms of billings (calendar 1973).
1980
Dentsu establishes its Beijing Office in China ahead of all other overseas advertising agencies.
1984
Dentsu contributes to the support of the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Dentsu and US-based Young & Rubicam jointly establish DYR, an international service network.
1989
Dentsu’s net sales exceed one trillion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1989.
1996
Dentsu contributes to the establishment of cyber communications inc. (cci), Japan’s first Internet advertising agency.
1997
The animated film Princess Mononoke—a co-production between Dentsu, Tokuma Shoten, and others—becomes a big hit.
1998
Dentsu contributes to the support of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games.
2000
Dentsu establishes the Bcom3 Group with the US-based firms the Leo Group and the MacManus Group.
2001
Dentsu lists its shares on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock. Exchange (TSE: 4324). Dentsu commemorates its 100th anniversary.
2002
Dentsu contributes to the support of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/JapanTM. The Bcom3 Group merges with the French company Publicis Groupe S.A., and Dentsu acquires capital in the Publicis Groupe.
2004
Dentsu implements a stock split (1:2).
2007
Dentsu’s consolidated net sales reach two trillion yen in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.
2008
Dentsu Holdings USA, Inc. acquires mcgarrybowen, LLC of the United States. Dentsu repurchases shares of approximately 60 billion yen.
2009
Dentsu implements a stock split (1:100).
2010
Dentsu establishes Dentsu Digital Holdings.
2012
Dentsu terminates strategic alliance and other agreements with Publicis Groupe S.A. and sells to Publicis a block of the shares of Publicis held by Dentsu.
2013
Dentsu acquires Aegis Group plc and establishes a new global operating unit, Dentsu Aegis Network, in London. The Dentsu Group medium-term management plan “Dentsu 2017 and Beyond” was released. Dentsu raises funds through a public offering.
2014
Dentsu is appointed as marketing agency by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
2015
Dentsu repurchases shares worth approximately 20 billion yen. Voluntary applied International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) with changes going into effect on December 31, 2017 The Dentsu Group medium-term CSR strategy 2020 is released.
2016
Transition from a company with an Audit & Supervisory Board to one with an Audit and Supervisory Committee Dentsu Digital Inc. is incorporated. Dentsu acquires a majority of shares in Merkle Group, Inc., an independent agency in the United States.
2017
Senior Vice President Toshihiro Yamamoto became the 13th President and CEO Dentsu acquires approximately 20.0 billion yen in treasury shares.
2018
Announced the Dentsu Group Medium-term Policy and began consideration of transition to a pure holding company structure (targeted for January 2020)