Completes construction of Shinjo (Katsuragi) Plant in Nara

Completes construction of Sharp Memorial and Technology Halls in Tenri, Nara

Markets VZ-V3, the world's first stereo system that automatically plays both sides of a record

Markets IQ-5000 electronic translator with voice synthesis technology

Develops long-life laser diode

Consolidates 12 home appliance sales companies to form Sharp Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.

Markets X1, the world's first PC-TV Set

Establishes Sharp Finance Corporation

Establishes Sharp (Phils.) Corporation (SPC), a joint manufacturing company in the Philippines

Constructs Tokyo Research Laboratories in Kashiwa, Chiba

Industry's first mass production plant for EL displays goes on line

Develops world's first microwave oven incorporating shape memory alloy

Consolidated net sales reach one trillion yen for the first time

Develops world's first ultra-compact, high-performance FET (field effect transistor) humidity sensor, a single-chip device incorporating a humidity sensor and FET with built-in temperature sensor

Achieves world's first production of 10 million microwave ovens

Constructs IC plant in Fukuyama, Hiroshima

Launches "New Lifestyle People" and "New Business People" product strategies

Markets RE-901, the world's first sensor convection microwave oven with barcode reader

Develops industry's first Japanese-English translation system using sophisticated text processing technology

Markets EL-900, a 0.8 mm-thick card-sized calculator

Develops world's brightest red and green thin-film EL elements

Establishes Sharp Trading Corporation

Establishes Sharp Manufacturing Company of U.K. (SUKM) as manufacturing base in the UK

Establishes Sharp-Roxy Appliances Corporation (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRAC), a joint manufacturing company in Malaysia

Establishes Sharp-Roxy Sales & Service Company (M) Sdn. Bhd. (SRSSC), a joint sales company in Malaysia