In 1958, Makita Corporation, which was founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company, became the first company in Japan to manufacture and sell portable electric planers. Over the half century since, Makita has worked to build a steady position as a manufacturer of power tools. Today, Makita continues to provide products and services that are beneficial to all types of customers engaged in housing construction. Makita’s history is one of close interaction with customers and parallels the evolution of power tools.