History of Stock Trading Floor

The former Tokyo Stock Exchange, which was the predecessor of the current Tokyo Stock Exchange, was founded.
(May, 1878)

In the early Meiji era, floor clerks worked in kimono.
(In the 1880s)

In the middle of the Meiji era, the stock trading floor was renewed as the scale of the market expanded. The most actively traded stock was the former Tokyo Stock Exchange's stock.
(In the 1890s)

In the early Showa era, a great deal of government bonds were issued during wartime.
(In the 1930s)

11 exchanges across the country were merged into the Japan Securities Exchange with the former Tokyo Stock Exchange's stock incorporated into the controlled economy during wartime.
(March, 1943)

Floor trading was suspended in August 1945 with aggravation of the war situation. After the war ended, the stock trading floor was occupied by the GHQ until January 1948.
(Around 1946)

The Japan Securities Exchange was dissolved in 1947 while a large number of shares were reallocated to public investors due to a breakup of Japanese "Zaibatsu" conglomerates. Possessing stocks immediately became popular with securities privatization and promotions. Trading at the Tokyo Stock Exchange resumed in May, 1949.
(May, 1949)

12 U-shaped trading posts were placed at the time of opening of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
(May 1949)

Prices of transactions were written on the black board with chalk. (1959)

In the 1960s, the securities industry suffered from the heaviest blow in the postwar era due to the slumping economy and sluggish stock and investment trust trading. In January 1968, the regulatory frameworks of securities companies were shifted to a licensing system.
(In 1969)

The prices of stocks were displayed on the electronic signboard when the market information system began operating at the stock trading floor.
(September, 1974)

GEKITAKU trading, group competitive call auction trading started in the middle of the era where stocks issued by Tokyo Stock Exchange were traded in December 1900, and continued until December 1982.
(In the 1980s)

The former stock trading floor in the 1980s is shown to the right.

Upon the completion of the new stock trading floor building, the floor was opened on the site of the former main building.
(May 1985)

A boom in stocks started around 1985 when the new stock trading floor was opened.
(In the latter half of the 1980s)

TSE computerized relevant operations at the stock trading floor, such as placing and matching orders, which had been done manually. With the computerization of the operations, placing orders on-line became possible also for stocks traded in the stock trading floor if the order was a small lot (less than specific volume), which resulted in accelerating computerization of relevant operations at the stock trading floor.

Accelerating the computerization gradually reduced the number of clerks on the stock trading floor.
(Mid-1990s)

The last closing session of the year on the stock trading floor is shown to the left. A large number of people involved in the securities industry packed the stock trading floor, reminiscing about the old days and hoping to make a life-long memory.
(On December 30, 1998)

The last opening session of the year on the stock trading floor is shown to the right. This is the last look at employees in kimono, which was the established custom of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
(January 4, 1999)