Despite not manufacturing standard needles anymore, sewing needles were the foundation of JICO’s technology. A needle factory was founded in 1873 to provide sewing needles for Japanese clothing companies in Kyoto.

In 1877, Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in America and the production of Japanese phonographs began in 1909. By combining sewing needle production technology with phonograph needle manufacturing, JICO began manufacturing steel needles for gramophones in 1949. Over the course of this era, JICO has exported needles to over 40 countries worldwide through its partnership with needle companies within Japan.

After the monaural gramophone was replaced by stereo record players in 1966, JICO moved forward with producing phonograph needles.