The history of GLORY dates back to 1918, when Kokuei Machinery Manufacturing was founded in Himeji, Japan. Kokuei Machinery was established as a factory for repairing and manufacturing light-bulb devices. In ensuing years, it expanded on its manufacturing strengths to build the first coin counter.

After developing Japan's first coin counter for Japan Mint in 1950, Kokuei entered the cash handling machine business and began creating revolutionary products such as coin wrappers, 1,000-yen banknote changers, and cigarette vending machines. Soon after its establishment in 1953, Kokuei's "GLORY" brand became synonymous with the pioneering production of cash handling machines in Japan. Then, in 1958, Kokuei reinforced the pioneering reputation of the GLORY brand by introducing the first vending machines in Japan for the sale of cigarettes and chewing gum.