Mutual Trading Co., Inc. was inaugurated and located a half mile east of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, California. The founding president, Sadagoro Hoshizaki starts the company to establish a co-op purchasing and import channel for the ten or so Japanese grocery store owners.
Noritoshi Kanai immigrates to the US with his family as General Manager of Mutual Trading to manage the business for the ailing Chuhei Ishii. MTC becomes the first company in the world to freeze Edamame and import them to America. Still with only seven Japanese restaurants in Little Tokyo, Mutual develops a Sushi bar business concept with Kawafuku and Eigiku Restaurants, the first in the US.
Mutual relocates to the Los Angeles office warehouse in an industrial district on Crocker Street.
New York Mutual Trading expands and relocates to Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Miyako Oriental Foods relocates to a Baldwin Park, California facility with a 1,000 metric ton capacity. In Berkeley, California, Takara USA begins brewing Shochikubai Sake.
Mutual’s long time affiliate, Yamasa Shoyu Company arrives in the US, opening a plant in Salem, Oregon.
Following extensive repairs, the Kobe office reopens for business. Los Angeles Mutual Trading reaches a 70-year milestone anniversary and celebrates with a commemorative trip to Las Vegas for all employees. Japanese restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area total 4,000.
