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Company Profile

History of Kracie

1887 to 1950s | 1960s to 1970s | 1980s to 1990s | 2000s to 2010s

1887 to 1950s
Year Corporate History Historical events
1887 Established as Tokyo Cotton Trading Company in Kanegafuchi, Sumida, Tokyo.
Birthplace monument erected in memorial park on the site of the Tokyo Factory. Birthplace monument erected in memorial park on the site of the Tokyo Factory
 
1889 Becomes listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and launches operations of its cotton spinning factory
The main factory in its early days depicted in Shinsen Tokyo Meisho Zue The main factory in its early days depicted in Shinsen Tokyo Meisho Zue
Promulgation of the Constitution of the Empire of Japan
Opening of the railway between Shimbashi and Kobe
1893 Renamed as Kanegafuchi Spinning K.K.    
1894 "Bell" mark is registered as a corporate trademark
The registered trade mark design of a hanging bell The registered trade mark design of a hanging bell
The Japanese-Sino War
1903 Becomes the first Japanese company to release a company newsletter, "KANEBO -NO-KITEKI".
"Kanebo no Kiteki", the first company newsletter issued in Japan "KANEBO -NO-KITEKI", the first company newsletter issued in Japan
The first-ever manned, self-propelled flight by the Wright brothers
1905 Establishes Kanebo Mutual Aid Association, a pioneering health-insurance system in Japan   The Russo-Japanese War and the Treaty of Portsmouth
1916 Commences construction of the Yodogawa Plant, the largest cotton-fabric processing facility in the East.    
1919 Establishes a new factory in Shanghai.   The Treaty of Versailles
1923 Establishes a free medical clinic in Hyogo (Kanebo Memorial Hospital).   The Great Kanto Earthquake
1931 Establishes Kanebo Service Company K.K. (subsequently opening service outlets in and outside Japan).   The Manchurian Incident
1934 Establishes Kanebo-Mutoh Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, the largest private research institute in Japan at the time with about 300 researchers
Kanebo Mutoh Research Institute for Physics and Chemistry Kanebo-Mutoh Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
 
1936 Registers the highest sales among private enterprises.
Introduces Kanebo Silk Soap.
Silk Soap launched in 1936
 
1939 Invents the first Japanese-made synthetic fiber "Kanebian".   Outbreak of World War II
1944 Merges Kanebo and Kanegafuchi Jitsugyo into Kanegafuchi Industrial Company K.K.    
1945 Loses almost all business facilities inside and outside Japan in World War II.   End of World War II
1946 Commences corporate reconstruction work, and renames itself Kanegafuchi Spinning.    
1947 Launches the 3S (Speed, Service and Saving) campaign, and introduces a new company emblem, company flag and company song.   Enforcement of the Constitution of Japan
1949 Introduces the use of roller skates for spinning machine piecing work as a revolutionary method to enhance work performance
A piecer wearing roller skates A piecer wearing roller skates
 
1955 Establishes Kanebo do Brasil S.A.
Opening ceremony of Kanebo Brasil Spinning Factory Opening ceremony of Kanebo Brasil Spinning Factory
 
1957 Opens a technical school within the Takasago Factory
Kanebo technical school Kanebo technical school
The first landing of Japan's wintering party in the Antarctic.
1960s to 1970s
Year Corporate History Historical events
1960 Issues the "Declaration of Comprehensive Beauty", and records the highest sales and profits in the cotton spinning industry.   The 1960 Rome Olympics
1962 Receives the Prime Minister's Award for the company's export performance.    
1964 Expands into the food business with the establishment of Kanebo-Harris, Ltd.   Opening of Tokaido Shinkansen express railway line
The 1965 Tokyo Olympics
1965 Merges with Tachibana Confectionary to enter the market of frozen desserts
"Chewing Bon" becomes a huge hit
Opens Kanebo Laboratory in Paris
   
1966 Establishes Kanebo Soap Sales and commences production and sales of Kanebo Silk Soap

Assumes the business rights of Yamashiro Pharmaceuticals to expand into the pharmaceutical business.
  The Beatles visits Japan
1969 Launches operations at the cosmetics Factory in Odawara
Factory in Odawara Factory in Odawara
Lunar landing of the Apollo 11
1970 Issues the "Declaration of Fashion Business Launch".
Declaration of Fashion Business Launch Kanebo fashion festival
The 1970 Osaka Expo
1971 Establishes Kanebo Soap Sales (subsequently becoming Kanebo Home Products) and Kanebo Soap Manufacturing
Renamed as Kanebo, Ltd.

Merges with Izumi Confectionary Company to strengthen the frozen desserts business and enter the chocolate market

Assumes the business rights of Nakataki Pharmaceuticals
  Nixon Shock
1972 Foundation of Kanebo Pharmaceutical Sales

Tie-up with Watanabe Confectionary that is merged into Kanebo the following year (launch of 1st "pot shiruko", instant azuki-bean soup with rice cake)
  The 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics
1974 Foundation of Kanebo Pharmaceuticals (renamed from Kanebo Pharmaceuticals Sales )   Nixon's resignation
1975 Renames Kanebo Soap Sales as Kanebo Home Products.

The R&D dept. wins the Okochi Award for the third time (also in 1957 &1969) gaining worldwide renown for its excellent technology and great contribution to industry.
The Okochi Award diploma The Okochi Award diploma
End of the Vietnam War
The Ocean Expo in Okinawa
1976 Produces non-fried noodles

Establishes Kampo Research Laboratory.
Development of production technology for non-fried noodles Development of production technology for non-fried noodles
The 1976 Montreal Olympics
1979 Commences retail product sales at Harrods in London (1st shop in Europe)

Establishes Kanebo Fashion Institute
2nd oil crisis

Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister of Great Britain
1980 to 1990s
Year Corporate History Historical events
1980 Issues the "Declaration of Women's Era", and establishes Kanebo Cosmetics Europe in Zurich, Switzerland.   The Iran-Iraq War
1982 Merges Kanebo Home Products into Kanebo, Ltd.    
1984 Launches "Lady 80 Bio Lipsticks" made from biotech material that are to become hypersellers
Biotech product Lady 80 Bio Lipstick Biotech product "Lady 80 Bio Lipstick"
The average life expectancy of Japanese citizens becomes the highest in the world
1986 Opens Kanebo Textile Museum   Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident
1987 Celebrates its 100th anniversary   NY stock market collapse (Black Monday)
1988 Establishes Qingdao Huazhong Pharmaceuticals    
1990 Issues the "Declaration of Artistic Industries" and completes construction of the Kanebo Memorial Hospital.
Kanebo Memorial Hospital. Kanebo Memorial Hospital.
Reunification of Germany

Toyohiro Akiyama's becomes the first Japanese citizen in space
1992 Completion of Tsushima Factory specialized in toiletries

Starts importing and selling the Frisk refreshing breath mints in an alliance with Frisk International in Belgium
   
1995 Moves the head office from Osaka to Minato-ku, Tokyo.   The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
1999 Transfers innovative pharmaceuticals business to Nippon Organon.   Introduction of the euro by 11 countries
2000s to 2010s
Year Corporate History Historical events
2000 Changes its industry classification on stock markets from textile to chemical.   The 2000 Sydney Olympics
2001 Adopts a different Japanese spelling for the company name Kanebo, Ltd., and issues the "Declaration of the Lifestyle Company".   The 9.11 terrorist attacks
2002 Simpro One-touch Haircolor wins the president's award offered to the best packager at the WPO WorldStar Packaging Awards
The Simpro One-touch Haircolor container, highly appraised of for its revolutionary design The Simpro One-touch Haircolor container, highly appraised of for its revolutionary design
The 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan/Korea
2004 Establishes the Kanebo Beauty Care Laboratory, and transfers the cosmetics business.

Launches Kanebo Cosmetics Inc., draws up a corporate restructuring plan, and comes under the support of Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan.
Adopts a committee-based corporate governance structure, and undergoes capital reduction, stock merger, and allocation of new shares to a third party.
  The 2004 Athens Olympics
2005 Succeeds in granule coating for the first time in Japan

Transfers the innovative material development business, is de-listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange, and transfers operations of the natural and synthetic fiber business.
Coccoapo, the product of advanced pharmaceutical technoloy Coccoapo, the product of advanced pharmaceutical technology
Opening of Central Japan International Airport Centrair
2006 Completes support from the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan, and gains new sponsorship from Advantage Partners LLP, MKS Partners Limited and Unison Capital, Inc.

Separates the staff department, Toiletries, Pharmaceuticals and Foods Divisions from Kanebo, Ltd., and forms new legal entities. Commences their operations as Kanebo Trinity Holdings, Ltd., Kanebo Home Products, Ltd., Kanebo Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. and Kanebo Foods, Ltd.
  The 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany
2007 Renamed as Kracie.

Part of Shinmachi factory registered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as the "33 Heritage Constellations of Industrial Modernization"
The new brand "Kracie" The new brand "Kracie"
Iwami ginzan was registered as a world heritage site
2008 Adoption of the corporate slogan "TAISETSU-NA-KOTO, Kracie" <Kracie, for the important things in life>

1st "Kurashi-ehon" (original picture book) campaign

Adopts corporate emblem

20th anniversary of Qingdao Huazhong Pharmaceuticals
Adoption of new slogan Adoption of new slogan
The 2008 Beijing Olympics
2009 Hoyu to become the largest stockholder.   The inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States

Start of the citizen jury system in Japan (May)
2010 Adoption of new "Kracie's Vision"   The Vancouver 2010 Olympics

The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa
2011 The establishment of a new Kracie awards program   The Great East Japan Earthquake

Ogasawara Island and Hiraizumi were registered as a world heritage site
2012 Hoyu to acquire 100% shares of Kracie holdings

Celebrates its 5th anniversary
  Tokyo Skytree Opens

Annular Solar Eclipse

The London 2012 Olympics
2013 Kracie Pharma Korea Co., Ltd.   Mt. Fuji was registered as a cultural World Heritage Site
2014 Launches 「Dear Beaut HIMAWARI」   The Sochi 2014 Olympics

The 2010 FIFA World Cup Brazil

Japanese consumption tax was raised from 5% to 8%
2015 Ichikami wins silver prize in toiletries category of JPM Creative Solution Award

Acquired the right to sell mentos in Japan
  Hokuriku Shinkansen commenced services

Japanese Social Security and Tax Number System came into effect
2016 Celebrates 「Nerunerunerune」 30th anniversary

Acquired the right to sell Chupa Chups in Japan
  The Rio 2016 Olympics

Smartphone game 「Pokemon Go」launches in Japan
2017 Celebrates its 10th anniversary

Adoption of new Kracie's Vision 「Our Tomorrow」

Launches 「Lamellance」
  Premium-Friday begins

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