The Origin of Weathernews!
“I want to protect the lives of mariners.” “I want to help in time of crisis.”
January, 1970. Fukushima, Japan.
An explosive low-pressure system hits the local port of Onahama, Japan.
The cargo vessel sinks, and the lives of 15 crew are lost.
Forecasting weather risks using the forecasting techniques of the day was difficult if not impossible.
If only better information were available, this accident could have been avoided.
“If there had been really useful weather information, maybe this accident could have been prevented.”
Feeling a sense of responsibility for this incident,company founder Hiro Ishibashi advanced the private weather forecasting industry by establishing Weathernews Inc. in 1986.
Since then, our forecasting and weather-based risk communication services have expanded to cover all types of business and our daily lives. However, Weathernews’ mission still protects the lives of sailors.
Now, Weathernews is a company dedicated to helping in any kind of natural disaster, and all our staff keep this mission in their heart.
Evolution to a Full Service Weather Company
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1970s
As a company specializing in marine weather, WNI (formerly Oceanroutes) provided weather routing services recommending the safest and most economical route to vessels.
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1980s
Began providing pinpoint weather service to catering companies in order to eliminate the losses from unsold box lunches on rainy days.
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1983
Started providing realtime satellite images for TV stations.
1985
Began aviation weather services, supporting safe flights for Honda Airlines.
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1986
June
WEATHERNEWS INC. was founded in Minato-ku, Tokyo, as a weather content maker for the purpose of serving all the weather markets.
1988
March
WEATHERNEWS AMERICA INC established.
1990
April
Opened Makuhari General Service Center in Chiba, Japan.
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1993
October
Acquired Oceanroutes.
1994
January
Established Weathernews Korea Inc.
1999
February
Started delivering weather information to NTT DoCoMo i-mode users (Japan).
2000
November
Acquired BV Weerbureau HWS (established through the privatization of the commercial department of the Dutch government’s weather agency) as a subsidiary via stock acquisition.
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December
Made an initial public offering to NASDAQ Japan.
Started delivering “Weathernews” to the BS digital data weather channel.
2002
March
Started delivering weather information to E-Plus cellular phone users (Germany).
April
Started delivering weather information in NTT DoCoMo i-mode format to KPN cellular phone users (Netherlands).
May
Supported weather-related administrative and response measures at 2002 FIFA World Cup soccer stadiums in Japan.
2003
March
Established Weathernews Shanghai Co,Ltd. in China.
November
Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
December
Started delivering weather information to three major cellular phone users (US).
2004
April
Started delivering weather information to China Mobile.
October
Opened U.S. Operations Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Mecca for meteorological research and development in the world.
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Established WEATHERNEWS U.K. LTD. in London.
2005
February
Signed transport weather business support agreement with Korean Air.
2006
March
Established WEATHERNEWS TAIWAN LTD.
March
Established Weathernews Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
July
Started preparation for launching a ultra-compact observation satellite "WNI Satellite"
Established Global Ice Center for monitoring and forecasting polar ice to support the Arctic Ocean routing.
November
Established Weathernews India Pvt. Ltd.
2008
October
The Chairman Hiroyoshi Ishibashi was chosen as one of the "Entrepreneurs of the Year Japan 2008".
2009
January
Released a smartphone application "Weathernews Touch" via iPhone.
October
Started expanding its proprietary WITH Rader Network across Japan.
2010
April
Started delivering weather contents to Monternet, a cellular phone portal service net, run by China Mobile, a leading Chinese mobile phone provider.
August
Weathernews Global Ice Center started.
September
Installed meteorological observation system in base stations in collaboration with KDDI CORPORATION, and announced a new sense of content "Sora-tenna" (WITH Sensor) to share collected weather data with WNI supporters.
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Weathernews Oklahoma Innovation Center initiated its development of infrastructure for realizing unconventional, innovative services.
2011
March
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, Weathernews began initiating its efforts for developing "TSUNAMI Radarcast" to transmit information on tsunami onset earlier and help mitigate damages as part of WNI's recovery and rehabilitation support.
May
Started delivering "weather news" to users of the navigation system installed in Toyota vehicles.
September
Established Weathernews Singapore Pte. Ltd.
2012
March
Started providing weather contents for a Kakao Talk application used by 3.3 million people in South Korea
April
Started providing aviation weather service to one of the top 5 Chinese airlines, Xiamen Air.
2013
March
Supported the team of Yuichiro Miura (aged 80), a world's oldest mountaineer, for their climbing of Mt. Everest.
November
Succeeded in launching a ultra-compact proprietary satellite "WNISAT-1"
2014
October
Strengthened support system for shipping companies and opened Manila Operation Center.
December
Opened Jakarta Office in the capital of Indonesia.
2015
May
Acquired the application business of a US social weather company Weathermob.
June
Opened Voyage Planning Service Center in Copenhagen.
Made a partnership for weather data with Netatmo, one of the world's largest French meteorological network service company.
July
Opened Hanoi office in the capital of Vietnam.
September
Completed development of WNISAT-1R.
Supported the Japan National Rugby union team in the international game in UK.
October
Weathernews and PAGASA sign memorandum of understanding for mutual cooperation against weather disasters in the Philippines.
November
Started Drone Project for providing weather support for safe drone operation.
Opened the Weathernews' day care center, WNI RAIN KIDS HOUSE.
2016
April
Weathernews Inc. and Indonesia’s BMKG Sign memorandum of understanding for Reducing Victims and Damage from Natural Disasters.
July
Opened Yangon Operation Center and established WEATHERNEWS RUS LLC.
August
Supported 16 Japanese teams in 7 International Sporting Events in Rio de Janeiro.
October
Opened offices in Athens and Bangkok.
2017
January
Acquired Metnext SA and opened Paris Service Center to expand services to worldwide energy, retail and agriculture markets.
July
Launched our second proprietary satellite, WNISAT-1R to monitor oceans and atmosphere.
2018
March
Signed MoU with the Laos Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Department of Meteorology and Hydrology regarding the sharing of weather data.
May
Position Monitoring system adopted by paramedic helicopters in Japan.
October
Signed MoU with the Myanmarese Department of Meteorology and Hydrology for data sharing.
2019
June
Established "AI Disaster Prevention Council" with the aim of social implementation of the "Disaster Prevention Chatbot" which utilizes SNS to disseminate disaster prevention information.
December
Started adaptation and mitigation efforts for climate change.
2020
September
Launched "Soratena", a high-performance IoT sensor for weather.
2022
June
Launched Climate Tech Planning to support corporate sustainability management
Weathernews won 1st place in accuracy of weather forecast services in Japan
Signed an agreement to promote climate change adaptation with the Japanese Ministry of the Environment
Our Dream
Weathernews as a weather information exchange platform for each and every people worldwide.