In the Meiji era, private enterprises were responsible for making standards although the Japanese government did have standards and specification documents for procurement purposes for certain articles, such as munitions.

These were summarized to form an official standard (old JES) in 1921. During World War II, simplified standards were established to increase matériel output.

The present Japanese Standards Association was established after Japan's defeat in World War II in 1945. The Japanese Industrial Standards Committee regulations were promulgated in 1946, Japanese standards (new JES) was formed.

The Industrial Standardization Law was enacted in 1949, which forms the legal foundation for the present Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS).

The Industrial Standardization Law was revised in 2004 and the "JIS mark" (product certification system) was changed, and the new JIS mark was applied since October 1, 2005 upon re-certification. The old mark is allowed to be used until September 30, 2008, for a transition period of 3 years, and every manufacture obtaining new or renewing certification under the authority's approval are then able to use the new JIS mark. Therefore all JIS certified Japanese products shall have the new JIS mark after October 1, 2008.