History

1931

Apr.

Matsutaro Yamada begins sales on his own of magic materials in Shintomicho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. He is the father of Akira Yamada, Tenyo's first president, and a professional magician who performed under the stage name Tenyo Shokyokusai, The current name of the company is taken from this stage name. The famed Tenko Hikita was one of his disciples.

1953

Tenyo’s founder, Akira Yamada, founded the Tenyo Magic Research Institute in Shintomicho in a new approach to magic.

1960

Apr.

Tenyo Magic Institute Co., Ltd., established.
Akira Yamada assumes post of representative director.

1962

Apr.

Company name changed to K.K. Tenyo, and product lines expanded to include non-magic items.

1963

Aug.

"Pla-puzzle" released. Continues to sell today as a classic puzzle.

1969

Jul.

Dai Vernon, one of the most respected American magicians, is invited to Japan for the first time to lecture around the country. Has a great impact on Japanese magic fans.

1970

May

Company name changed to Tenyo Co., Ltd.

1971

May

"Sea Monkey" released, a novel pet that is born when the egg is placed in water.

1973

Mar.

Jigsaw puzzles imported from Germany and sold. Gradual switchover to domestic production.

Jul.

Sales of backgammon begun. Japan Backgammon Association established.

1974

Jan.

Establishment of a thoroughgoing after-service system for jigsaw puzzles using service cards.

1975

Aug.

Sales of children jigsaw puzzles begun for the first time in Japan.

Oct.

Magic encyclopedia "Tarbell Course Vol. 1" translated and published.

1981

Nov.

"Tarbell Course Vol. 7" published, completing translation of the entire seven-volume cycle.

1983

Apr.

Sales of magic goods begun in theme park magic shops.

1988

Mar.

Sales of child puzzles begun.

1989

Oct.

Sales of the vanishing money coin box "Art Bank" begun.

1991

Mar.

Move to Sengoku, Koto-ku, with the completion of the Headquarters Building. Efforts made to bolster the service system with the introduction of free-dial telephone numbers.

Apr.

Sales of the front-opening one-touch jigsaw puzzle panel begun.

Nov.

Sales of the etched puzzle "Metallic Puzzle."

1992

May

Sales begun of "3D Art Posters," in which pictures appear to emerge out of a sandstorm-like background.
Touches off a 3D art boom in Japan. "Magic Eye," published under sublicense, becomes a super-bestseller in bookstores.

Jun.

Sales of money-shrinking coin box "Micro Bank" begun.

Jul.

Sales begun of "3D Art Jigsaw Puzzles" that appear to be three dimensional.

Aug.

Sales begun of Wrebbit (Canada) three-dimensional puzzles.

1993

Feb.

Sales of the Disney Character Library Series begun. Book style packaging to become a popular long-seller.

Jul.

Sales of "Photo Display Jigsaw Puzzle" begun.

Dec.

Sales of products licensed from Tenyo begun by Milton-Bradley in the United States under the brandname "Magic Works," and products become a big hit as a result of national TV commercial campaign.

1994

Jul.

Sales begun of holo-paper jigsaw puzzles.

Oct.

  • Sales of "Magictainment" series begun. The name combines "magic" with "entertainment".

  • Sales begun of "Magician Bank," coin box in which Mickey Mouse performs magic tricks.

1995

Jul.

  • Sales of puzzle keyholder "Petit Maze."

  • Sales begun of science toy "Crystal Factory," which produces crystals.

Oct.

Sales begun of "Film Art Jigsaw Puzzles," combining puzzles and cell pictures.

Nov.

Sales of coin-spinning coin box "Spin Bank" begun.

1996

Mar.

Sales of cork paper jigsaw puzzles begun.

Jul.

Sales begun of "Triops," an ancient organism that is born when the egg is placed in water.

Oct.

  • Sales begun of "Angel Gallery," which preserves an infant's handprint in clay.

  • With the retirement of Akira Yamada as representative director, Hisataka Toyoshima assumes page of president and representative director.

1997

Jun.

Sales of jigsaw puzzle clock "Puzz-Clock" begun.

1998

Jul.

Sales begun of "Cyber Magician," a magic CD-ROM that enables a computer to perform magic tricks.

1999

May

Sales begun of "Shockclock," a timepiece incorporating a magic-trick.

Oct.

Sales begun of "We tell time," a next-generation clock that draws original messages in the air.

2000

Nov.

Sales begun of "Artillusion," the world's first "new technology art" that turns luminous in full color with black light.

2001

Apr.

Service begun of "i-Love Magic," an NTT DoCoMo official web site that enables people to perform magic tricks using their cellar phones.

Aug.

Sales begun of "Candy Bubble," an edible soap bubble.

Nov.

Sales begun of "Air Blade," a UFO simulation game.

2002

Apr.

Began the Junior Magician Video Contest, in which budding young magicians 17 years old and under compete by sending in their recorded video performances.

Dec.

  • Began sales of a "Savings Passbook" in which 100,000 yen can be saved by traveling around the world.

  • Began sales of a new "Atelier Label" line employing Disney character artwork on filing boxes, notebooks and other stationery products.

2003

Oct.

Began sales of the World's Greatest Magic Series, bringing together best-selling magic products from around the world.

2004

Jul.

Began sales of "Lumina Sweet" glow-in-the dark candy.

2005

Nov.

  • Began sales of "Stained Art" jigsaw puzzles, featuring stained glass-like transparent pieces.

  • Began sales of the "Guinness World Records" recognized World's Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle.

2006

Nov.

Began sales of Master of Illusion, a video game for the Nintendo DS. Tenyo supplied the product and provided supervision. The game was launched in the U.S. in 2007 and in Europe in 2008.

2007

Oct.

  • Began sales of a “Glasses Holder,” the world’s first stand for glasses enabling users to enjoy the expressions of different characters such as Mickey Mouse.

  • Began sales of a gyroscope where the earth’s globe floats in the air. Later evolved into “Fantasy Universe.”

2008

Apr.

Began sales of the “Character Play” series, enabling users to decorate the Nintendo DS with fun characters.

Jul.

Began sales of the “Art Figure Panel,” a frame for jigsaw puzzles that depicts three-dimensional Disney characters.

Nov.

  • Started supplying magic downloads to Nintendo in line with the release of the Nintendo DSi. Launched the service worldwide the following year.

  • Began sales of “Magic Wave Stick” and “Science Magic Trick 10,” science toys recommended by Denjiro Yonemura.

2009

Jun.

Sales of “Savings Passbook” surpassed 1 million copies.

Nov.

Began sales of “JIGAZO PUZZLE,” the world’s first puzzle where users can create a puzzle with their own face simply by sending an email of their face.

Dec.

Began sales of “Magic Shuffle,” an iPhone app for watching magic. Ranked 1st in domestic fee-based games and 2nd overall in April the following year.

2010

Jun.

Started sales of “V-CUBE 7,” a cubic puzzle with the largest number of blocks.

Sep.

Started sales of “Magic Matrix,” a magic app for the iPad.

Oct.

Started sales of “Super Butterfly,” which flies around in a bottle like a real butterfly. Received the Excellence Award in the High Target category in the Japan Toy Awards.

Nov.

  • Began sales of “JIGAZO PUZZLE ART,” the world’s first puzzle where users can create their own face in world-famous paintings such as the Mona Lisa, simply by sending an email of their face. Placed 1st in the Innovative Category in the Japan Toy Awards.

  • Started sales of “Tweet Fantasy” where the time and the tweet appear in the air.

  • “JIGAZO PUZZLE” released under the same title by Hasbro, Inc. of the U.S. under license to Tenyo.

2011

Nov.

Began sales of “JIGAZO PUZZLE Disney All Stars,” the world’s first puzzle enabling users to create their face from among 520 Disney characters.

Dec.

Began sales of “Metallic Nano Puzzle,” a high-quality metal model with ultra-fine laser cutting. Remove and assemble the parts from the metal sheet to create an elaborate 3D object. Approximately 500,000 units shipped for the entire series in the first year.

2012

Sep.

Began sales of a new-size (18.5x55.5cm) Gyutto 456-Piece Puzzle. (Started sales of the same size “Stained Art” jigsaw puzzles in November.) Started sales of the “Toku Toku Panel” for displaying both the regular Gyutto 456-Piece Puzzle and “Stained Art” jigsaw puzzles.

Oct.

Began sales of “God Hand,” a new magictainment product that won the Excellence Award in the High Target Toy category in the Japan Toy Awards. An amazing phenomenon in which separate cards are joined together in front of your eyes.

2013

Aug.

Began sales of “Last Piece Jigsaw Puzzle,” where something happens when you insert the last piece and look at the puzzle through your iPhone or other device.
“Last Piece Jigsaw Puzzle” won the Grand Prize in the Innovative Toy category in the Japan Toy Awards for 2013. At the same time, “Metallic Nano Puzzle” won the Grand Prize in the High Target Toy category, making Tenyo a Double Grand Prize winner.

Sep.

The pieces are pure white! Began sales of “Pure White Jigsaw Puzzle” using beautifully colored eco-resin materials for the pieces. The puzzle will be granted the “Biomass Mark” certification that values the environment and resources.

2014

Jul.

The world’s first!! Began sales of “Home Rainbow,” a device that creates your own rainbow. Won the Excellence Award in the Innovative Toy category for the 2014 Toy Awards.

2015

Sep.

“Light” revolution for badges!! Began sales of “HIKARING,” badges whose entire front surface shines.

2016

Jul.

Added multi-colored series to “Metallic Nano Puzzle.” The ultra-precision metal model is now available in color, and cumulative sales for the series total over 2 million units. Won the Excellence Award in the High Target Toy category for the 2016 Toy Awards.

Sep.

Began sales of “Katsukatsu Amidakuji,” which won the Excellence Award in the Innovative Toy category in the Japan Toy Awards. A new principle in magic based on the theme of a “Ghost Leg” lottery.

2017

Apr.

Began sales of the “Secret Tool Magic” series that uses magic to reproduce the Doraemon “Small Light” and Doraemon “Time Cloth,” etc.

Aug.

  • Began sales of the Canvas Art” series, jigsaw puzzles processed to seem like canvas.

  • Began sales of “Fine Art,” framed art specially drawn for jigsaw puzzles.

2018

Sep.

Began sales of “Smartphone Illusion,” a new World Greatest Magic product. Won the Excellence Award in the High Target Toy category for the 2018 Toy Awards. An astonishing phenomenon whereby a handkerchief passes through a smartphone screen.

2019

Aug.

Began sales of “Brain Block, an updated version of the long-selling “Plastic Product,” based on a new concept. Resulted in many new puzzle fans.

Nov.

Began sales of “Magic 10,” the first magic set in Super Mario Brothers.

2020

Sep.

Held the annual Tenyo Magic Festival online.

TENYO OFFICIAL