Social Optimality Milestones

Chiyoda Stationery Co., Ltd. was founded through the merger of Imaizumi Shoten and Suzuki Shoten. Both presidents retained their position, and Chiyoda Stationery was a hot topic of the day as “an unusual company that has two presidents.” The brand name PLUS was adopted as the company name in 1959. It incorporated the aspirations that the two companies would become one and generate synergy, and that the company would be a plus to society.

The History of the PLUS Group

Left: Shinjiro Imaizumi Right: Hohei Suzuki

The original company building (Kanda‑Iwamotochō, Chiyoda‑ku Tokyo)

The employee dress code was abolished in 1982, an unusual step for the time. The following year, Yoshihisa Imaizumi (our current chairman) became president at the young age of 40. A culture of speaking freely became established, and creativity that galvanized working spaces led to the development of a wide range of office businesses. During all this, we grew from a manufacturing wholesaler to a “manufacturer that creates the best from scratch.” We completed our industrial complex PLUSLAND and our plants in Vietnam, and moved forward with manufacturing that coexists in harmony with its local area and the environment.

The History of the PLUS Group

Launch of our TEAM DEMI personal stationery set (1984)

Striving to “prioritize customer satisfaction while also striving to satisfy our company,” we created a business model based on our concept of Social Optimality and started the ASKUL business in 1993 to bring a breath of fresh air to the office products logistics industry. The trademark we had used ever since our founding was revamped in 2007. We retained blue, a color overflowing with vitality, as its key color tone, and created a simple and fresh design with a contemporary feel by using a highly visible but casual typeface.

The History of the PLUS Group

Left: 1972 Our “Wave” logo
Center: 1988 Revised to just the PLUS letters
Right: 2007 Revamped for our Brand Strengthening Year One

PLUSLAND

We established a new corporate philosophy based on the corporate climate, culture, and philosophy handed down since our founding. We also clearly stated our vision, values and guidelines for actions as PLUS no kokoro.
As values become increasingly diversified and globalization proceeds apace, we are expanding our business foundation with an eye toward the next generation by adding companies with diverse strengths to the PLUS Group, in order to further enhance our presence in each business sector.
We are also promoting cross-functional projects to generate synergies across the group and bring new ideas to life.
In particular, our Global Stationery Company established in 2024 is fulfilling its role of supervising our businesses inside and outside Japan and further accelerating value creation across the globe.
Alongside this business expansion, we are also advancing operational efficiency through the integration of core systems at each company and the utilization of our generative AI, “Minna no DX Chat.”
We are strengthening initiatives based on our sustainability policies, such as calculating and reducing CO₂ emissions across the group, in order to address environmental challenges.
To continue delivering “Unique Values ‑ Higher Satisfaction.” the PLUS Group will continue working to realize “Social Optimality” and a sustainable future by sharing our corporate philosophy and demonstrating the action and creativity of each employee as one unified Group.

The History of the PLUS Group

An office where DEAI generates IDEA (Headquarters, the Toranomon Office)

PLUS DESIGN CROSS (Furniture Company Ebisu Office)