History

December
1979		 Seven Japanese international freight forwarders (IFFs) – Mitsubishi Warehouse Co., Ltd. (today's Mitsubishi Logistics Corp.); Nippon Express Co., Ltd.; Keihin Warehouse Co., Ltd. (The Keihin Co., Ltd.); Mitsui-Soko Co., Ltd.; Sumitomo Warehouse Co., Ltd.; Omori Kaisoten, Ltd. and Nissin Transport Co. Ltd. (Nissin Corp.) – agree to establish a Japan International Freight Forwarders Association, Inc (JIFFA).
January
1980		 11 IFFs (the above-mentioned seven as well as Naigai Nitto Co., Ltd.; Dainichi Tsuun Co. Ltd. (Tradia Corp.); Meiko Trans Co. Ltd. and JPT Logistics Co. Ltd.) form a committee in preparation for the establishment of JIFFA.
September
1980		 The originators (the above-mentioned 11 IFFs) hold a general assembly, and 83 (the 11 and 72 enterprises supporting the aim of establishing JIFFA) apply for membership.
October
1981		 The preparatory committee convenes a general assembly.
September
1982		 JIFFA celebrates its first anniversary, and the number of members reaches 107.
October
1985		 JIFFA becomes an incorporated association (after obtaining approval from the Minister of Transport (today's Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) on September 20).
October
1985		 JIFFA launches a course for qualifying international multimodal transport specialists (IMTSs).
July
1986		 JIFFA develops a JIFFA multimodal bill of lading (MT B/L).
September
1988		 JIFFA commences a language course for learning practical English.
November
1990		 The total volume of international cargoes handled by JIFFA members exceeds five million tons in the first half.
October
1992		 The Ministry of Transport (today's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) approves JIFFA's course for training and educating IMTSs.
May
1993		 JIFFA develops new JIFFA MT B/L terms and conditions in line with the ratification by Japan of the Hague-Visby Rule.
March
1994		 JIFFA completes a JIFFA Waybill.
March
1994		 JIFFA has a membership of more than 200 companies.
April
1994		 A JIFFA delegate visits China, invited by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation (MOFTEC: today's Ministry of Commerce).
February
1995		 JIFFA holds its IMTS training course for the first time in Nagoya.
July
1995		 The total volume of international cargoes handled by JIFFA members exceeds 10 million tons for the first time on a six-month scale in the second half of fiscal 1994.
February
1997		 JIFFA completes terms and conditions for JIFFA forwarder's cargo receipts (FCRs).
October
1998		 The course for training and educating IMTSs is renamed the course for qualifying IMTSs.
April
1999		 JIFFA upgrades its language course for learning practical English into a training course for practical English communication.
May
1999		 JIFFA publishes a special report to commemorate the 100th edition of its JIFFA News.
April
1999		 JIFFA inaugurates an elementary Chinese course.
April
2000		 JIFFA undertakes an organizational reshuffle in its committees.JIFFA undertakes an organizational reshuffle in its committees.
December 2000 The number of IMTSs produced by JIFFA exceeds 2,000.
July
2001		 The total volume of international cargoes handled by JIFFA members exceeds 20 million tons for the first time on a six-month scale in the second half of fiscal 2000 and 40 million tons on a yearly scale in fiscal 2000.
March
2002		 JIFFA sends a delegation for the first time to a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
April
2002		 JIFFA kicks off an intermediate Chinese course.
July
2002		 JIFFA holds its intensive course for international multimodal transport for the first time in Kyushu.
October
2003		 JIFFA has a membership of more than 300 companies.