History of
our logo mark “IK”

IK

It was way back in 1890 that Katsutaro Inabata founded Inabata Senryoten, the predecessor of Inabata & Co., Ltd., after studying what was then the world's most advanced dye technology in France. The IK logo deriving from his initials was born at the same time.

Although the color and shape may have changed with the times, IK has always been familiar to the public as the symbol of our company. Along with his philosophy of love (ai : "I") and respect (kei : "K") for people, today's Inabata & Co. carries on the borderless dynamism and entrepreneurial spirit of our founder.

This is the story of our IK logo from its early days, as seen in photographs.

You can tap the images to switch the pictures.

  1. Signature of Katsutaro Inabata, our founder
    1890’s

    1890s: Signature of Katsutaro Inabata, our founder

    This is the signature of Katsutaro on a letter sent to a transaction partner in France shortly after our founding.
    The name "Inabata" follows the initials "I. K."
    The letter also included placement of an order to the Lumiere Brothers, who invented the cinematograph, the first motion-picture camera/projector which Katsutaro was trying to import from France.

  2. Signature of Katsutaro Inabata, our founder Signature of Katsutaro Inabata, our founder
    1893

    1893 and 1895: Ads in industrial journals

    In its early days, Inabata Senryoten (renamed to Inabata Shoten in1893) sold dyestuffs imported first from a major French dye manufacturer, "Société Anonyme des Matierès Clolorantes & Produits Chimiques de St. Denis," followed by many other manufacturers overseas. Katsutaro placed advertisements for his products in journals of related industries published in various regions. He also endeavored to enlighten industries about the products by contributing commentary on dyeing methods. The ads of the day had a design accented with the IK logo.

  3. Stage curtain sent to the Ichikawa Sadanji troupe Stage curtain sent to the Ichikawa Sadanji troupe
    1894

    1894: Stage curtain sent to the Ichikawa Sadanji troupe

    In cooperation with Nippon Orimono (Japan Textile Company), one of Japan's two leading weaving companies, Katsutaro Inabata succeeded in commercializing Orihime Shusu, a domestically-produced black satin product to replace the imported satin “Nanking-Shusu” then in vogue.
    Along with the sales of Orihime, a troupe led by kabuki actor Ichikawa Sadanji staged Orihime no Shusu Enishi no Iroito, a play to publicize the product, at the Meiji-za theater in Tokyo. The stage curtain sent to the troupe by Inabata Shoten for this staging also bears the IK logo.

  4. “Happi” uniform at Inabata Dye House
    1897

    1897: “Happi” uniform at Inabata Dye House

    In 1897, when the level of domestic dyeing technology was gradually rising, Katsutaro established Inabata Dye House which was dedicated to dyeing work. He introduced state-of-the-art dyeing machines and the latest dyes from overseas, and took a personal hand in cultivating the development of technicians and workers at the Dye House. Until it was handed over to Toyobo Co., Ltd. in 1935, Inabata Dye House devised and produced excellent goods including maroon dyes used for women's “hakama” style skirts and khaki dyes for military uniforms.

  5. Relocation to Osaka Relocation to Osaka
    1897

    1897: Relocation to Osaka

    In October 1897, Katsutaro moved Inabata Shoten to the Minami-Semba (where our head office is still located) in Osaka, Japan's biggest center of commerce at that time. He made the move so the company could achieve an additional leap, and used the new location as the headquarters of the business. In the photograph of the relocated store can be seen several boxes marked with the IK logo.

  6. 稲畑商店大阪本店の手拭い
    1897-
    1917

    From 1897 to around 1917: Souvenir towel from the Osaka store of Inabata Shoten

    The IK souvenir towel was presented to customers in this period.

  7. The new Tokyo branch in Horidome-cho The new Tokyo branch in Horidome-cho
    1901

    1901: The new Tokyo branch in Horidome-cho

    As the domestic economy rapidly developed, the company opened up an office in the Hongoku-cho district of Tokyo's Nihonbashi Ward in 1894. In 1901, the company opened the new Tokyo branch store in Horidome-cho. The IK logo is displayed high on the wall of the new building for all to see.

  8. Establishment of Inabata & Co., Ltd. Establishment of Inabata & Co., Ltd.
    1918

    1918: Establishment of Inabata & Co., Ltd.

    Reacting swiftly to the changing times, Katsutaro converted his privately-run store into a corporation to pave the way for further advancement of the business. The design of the stock certificates issued upon incorporation also bears the IK logo.

  9. Recovery and temporary store shortly after the Great Kanto Earthquake Recovery and temporary store shortly after the Great Kanto Earthquake
    1923

    1923: Recovery and temporary store shortly after the Great Kanto Earthquake

    On September 1, 1923, the Tokyo branch was destroyed by the huge earthquake that shook the whole Kanto region. From its main store in Osaka, the company sent donations, apparel, and food to provide relief for the survivors. The company also set up a temporary office in Tokyo shortly after the quake, and opened a new store there in March 1924

  10. Pamphlet for champagne Pamphlet for champagne
    1925

    Around 1925: Pamphlet for champagne

    The list of products handled by Inabata & Co. was no longer confined to chemicals and dyestuffs; it had expanded to include machinery and even western-style alcoholic beverages. On the left is a pamphlet for champagne with the red IK logo.

  11. The founder’s top hat
    The founder’s top hat
    1926

    Around 1926: The founder’s top hat

    Our founder Katsutaro loved to wear this top hat on important occasions. On the inside is the IK logo.

  12. Inabata’s employee baseball team Inabata’s employee baseball team
    1936

    Around 1936: Inabata’s employee baseball team

    The baseball uniforms were emblazoned with the IK logo.

  13. At the Kyoto branch in Aburanokoji At the Kyoto branch in Aburanokoji
    1937

    1937: At the Kyoto branch in Aburanokoji

    The branch in Kyoto, where the first store was opened, was closed in February 1941 as wartime controls were tightened. The IK logo was also used on the lanterns in front of the store.

  14. 1938

    Around 1938: "Aikei (IK) Jiho"

    When war broke out, Inabata employees were among the men who were drafted and sent to battlefields. The company showed its concern for its employees in uniform by sending them a bag of comforts every month. At the same time, the company published “Aikei (IK; meaning love and respect) Jiho,” a newsletter relating the activities of the soldiers and employees inside and outside Japan, to link the men in the field with the people back home.

  15. Dyestuff can label Dyestuff can label
    1946

    1946: Dyestuff can label

    The wartime controls were lifted, and the company resumed its handling of dyestuffs. In 1949, it became a special agent of Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd. (now Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) In the year after, the company resumed its import based on preferred foreign currency and expanded its import of dyestuffs by becoming a special agent for many companies overseas. The IK logo was naturally on the labels of cans holding dyestuffs in this period.

  16. Aikei (IK) calligraphy by Katsutaro Inabata
    1948

    1948: Aikei (IK) calligraphy by Katsutaro Inabata

    Katsutaro Inabata, our founder, grounded the business in the spirit of love and respect (ai and kei in Japanese) and asserted that the company could win the trust of society only if it always retained its integrity.

  17. New building for the Osaka head office New building for the Osaka head office
    1954

    1954: New building for the Osaka head office

    Once the period of post-war disruption was over, the company erected a new building for its main store in Osaka in May 1954. The letters IK were displayed at the very top of the building. The company made the transition from postwar recovery and entered a new phase of booming economic growth.

  18. Reception area of Siam Inabata Co., Ltd. Reception area of Siam Inabata Co., Ltd.
    1987

    1987: Reception area of Siam Inabata Co., Ltd.

    The subsidiary Siam Inabata Co., Ltd. (now Inabata Thai Co., Ltd.) was established in Thailand, where many Japanese firms have sited. At the time of its founding, the reception area was also emblazoned with the IK logo.

  19. The IK mark and company logo today
    2001

    2001: The IK mark and company logo today

    In 2001, the company formulated the "Creative Guidelines of Inabata & Co., Ltd." and unified the logo type. It was at this time that IK acquired its current color and shape as a symbol of our resolve to carry on the tradition and trust we have accumulated over the preceding 110 years as well as of our vitality and uniqueness for blazing the future.

page top