is a

chemical A chemical substance is a form of matter having constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Some references add that chemical substance cannot be separated into its constituent elements by physical separation methods, i.e., w ...

and

cosmetics Cosmetics are constituted mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources, or synthetically created ones. Cosmetics have various purposes. Those designed for personal care and skin care can be used to cleanse or protect ...

company headquartered in Nihonbashi-Kayabacho, Chūō, Tokyo, Japan.

History

Kao was established in 1887 by Tomiro Nagase as a manufacturer of domestic toiletry soap. Until 1954, they were known as , and finally in 1985 to Kao Corporation. ; 1960s and 1970s : During the 1960s and the 1970s, the company expanded to

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...

and

ASEAN ASEAN ( , ), officially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic union of 10 member states in Southeast Asia, which promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, militar ...

countries, and also to oleochemicals in order to complement their main business. During this time, the company launched household products, laundry products, and industrial products to expand its revenue base (such as New Beads detergent, Humming fabric softener, Haiter bleach and Magiclean household cleaners). ; 1980s : During the 1980s, its products Merries diapers, Attack detergent, Bioré daily skincare and Bioré U daily body care, Curel (1986) and Sofina cosmetics were launched. During this time, Kao engaged in several joint ventures (haircare in Europe,

Nivea Nivea (, stylized as NIVEA) is a German personal care brand that specializes in skin and body care. It is owned by the Hamburg-based company Beiersdorf Global AG. The company was founded on 28 March 1882, by Paul Carl Beiersdorf. In 1890, it w ...

in Japan with

Beiersdorf Beiersdorf AG is a German multinational company that manufactures and retails personal-care products and pressure-sensitive adhesives. Its brands include Elastoplast, Eucerin (makers of Aquaphor), Labello, La Prairie, Nivea, Tesa SE (Tesa t ...

), and acquisitions (Andrew Jergens Company in 1988, Goldwell AG in 1989) in North America and Europe. During this period, Kao also expanded to the manufacture of floppy disks. ; 1990s and 2000s : During the 1990s and 2000s, the company expanded into China and Vietnam—countries that, during that time, were opening up their economies to the rest of the world. Also, the company expanded into food products with Econa and Healthya. Additionally, the company made floppy disks and optical discs during this time. It also continued to acquire businesses ( John Frieda in 2002,

Molton Brown Molton Brown is a luxury British fragrance brand known for Eaux de Parfum and Toilette, as well as bath, body, hair, and home collections. Molton Brown started up in 1971 on South Molton Street, London. Since then, they have manufactured all ...

in 2005 and Kanebo Cosmetics in 2006). In 2020, Kao Corporation was ranked the #4 out of 42 companies in the Corporate Knights Industry Group’s Personal Care and Cleaning Products category, recognized for its excellence in innovation capacity, employee retention as well as clean revenue, or revenue from all goods and services which have clear environmental benefits. For the company's national and international experience in sustainable development, and eco-friendly products, the Environment Possibility Award conferred the "Environmental Heroes of the Year" to Kao Corporation in 2020. In 2021 two of Kao’s products, the 3D Space Shampoo Sheet and the Space Laundry Sheet, were chosen to be sent to the International Space Station, with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) in 2022. File:A skin you love to touch.png, This picture was part of an advertising campaign by the Andrew Jergens Company in 1917. It was given out for every purchase of a cake of

Woodbury's Facial Soap The Woodbury Soap Company was an American manufacturer of personal care products such as cold cream, facial cream, facial powder, after-shave talc and ear swabs. Founded in Albany, New York in 1870, it became a subsidiary of the Andrew Jergens Co ...

. Valid in the United States and Canada through 5 October 1917

Brand ownership

* Attack * Ban * Bioré * Biozet * Curel * Goldwell * Guhl * Healthya * Jergens * John Frieda * Kanebo * Kate * KMS * Laurier * Liese * Magiclean * MegRhythm * Merries * Merit *

* Oribe * Segreta * Sensai * Sofina * Success

References

External links

Kao Worldwide website in English

Kao Japan website

Kao corporate website in English

Kao Brands Company, Kao's US subsidiary
{{authority control Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Chemical companies based in Tokyo Cosmetics companies of Japan Japanese brands Chemical companies established in 1887 Japanese companies established in 1887 Multinational companies headquartered in Japan