Company History

Weathernews has a track record of over fifty years as a global pathfinder weather information company. The company began with the quest of a young man to save the lives of sailors. This vision was taken up by weather technicians who became his collaborators, and Weathernews was established in 1986 as a group company of Oceanroutes. Oceanroutes itself originated from the Pacific Weather Analysis Corporation, which was founded in California in 1952.

March 1970 Oceanroutes Japan is established in Minato-ku, Tokyo as a subsidiary of U.S.-based Oceanroutes (established 1967).
May 1984 Start of comprehensive disaster-prevention weather consulting service for local governments.
June 1986 Land and airline departments develop into independent subsidiaries of Oceanroutes, and Weathernews is established.
March 1988 Weathernews America is established.
November 1988 Start of Japan’s first lightning information service, with a lightning position evaluation network created to cover the Kanto, Koshinetsu and Tohoku regions of Japan.
April 1990 Weathernews Makuhari General Service Center opens in Makuhari, Chiba.
October 1993 Takeover of Oceanroutes, world’s largest ocean weather information company.
February 1999 Start of “WNI Weather InformationE(now “WeathernewsE service for NTT DoCoMo i-mode.
October 2000 Start of “WeathernewsEchannel (channel 744) on SKY PerfecTV!.
December 2000 Start of “WeathernewsEBS digital data weather channel (channel 910). Listed on Osaka Securities Exchange NASDAQ Japan (standard).
November 2000 BV Weerbureau HWS (established through the privatization of the commercial department of the Dutch government’s weather agency) is acquired as a subsidiary via stock acquisition.
Number of shares per unit is changed from 1,000 to 100.
May 2002 Support for weather-related administrative and response measures at 2002 FIFA World Cup soccer stadiums in Japan.
March 2002 Start of “WeathernewsEweather information content for E-Plus cellular phone users in Germany.
April 2002 Start of weather information content in NTT DoCoMo i-mode format for KPN cellular phone users in the Netherlands.
March 2003 Weathernews Shanghai Co., Ltd. is established in China.
May 2003 Transport weather business support agreement is signed with American Airlines.
November 2003 Listed on the first section of the Tokyo Securities Exchange.
December 2003 Start of content for three major cellular phone carriers in the U.S.
January 2004 Weathernews supports weather information for NTV’s “Hakone EkidenEprogram.
January 2004 Local subsidiaries are established in Italy
March 2004 Start of weather information for 7-ELEVEN Taiwan.
March 2004 Local subsidiaries are established in Spain
April 2004 Start of weather information for China Mobile, major mobile communications company with 70% share of China market.
April 2004 Start of “Weathernews,Efirst weather channel on “EZ ChannelEfor au cellular phone users
April 2004 Start of “Travel Weather AdvisorEcellular phone site providing individually-tailored weather advice for Japanese Golden Week holiday.
May 2004 Weather information for i-mode service of major Italian communications provider WIND.
May 2004 One million mobile supporters (paid subscribers) are logged.
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