Top 10 Japanese cosmetics companies in 2018
Top 10 Japan’s companies list from cosmetics industries in 2018
Japan is one of the world’s largest markets for cosmetics and personal care products, and has a long tradition of using cosmetics, making Japanese cosmetics manufacturers such as Shiseido and Kao are among the largest globally. Japanese consumers today are highly sophisticated and conscious of quality, product value, and the brands they buy and use.
According to the production statistics of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, the amount of cosmetics sales in 2017 exceeded 1.6 trillion yen for the first time in the statistics of the past 10 years, and it was the highest amount. Growth rate has been growing for 5 consecutive years since 2013.
In the settlement of major cosmetic manufacturers’ fiscal year ended December 2017, Shiseido, Kose and Pola increased by two digits compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year, and each company performed well on a year-on-year basis.
This list comprises the Japan largest public, state-owned, and private businesses by their rankings for sales in cosmetics & beauty industries.
Founding Years
- 9 years or less: 0
- 10 to 19 years: 1 company
- 20 to 29 years: 0
- 30 to 39 years: 1 company
- 40 to 49 years: 0
- 50 to 59 years: 2 companies
- 60 to 69 years: 0
- 70 to 79 years: 2 companies
- 80 to 89 years: 1 company
- 90 to 99 years: 1 company
- Over 100 years: 2 companies
This list includes companies with over 100 years of establishment, and there are many large companies with long history in Japan. If you are interested in the old company list please also visit here.
No.1 – Kao Corporation : 1.5T Yen
Kao Corporation, a chemical and cosmetics company headquartered in Tokyo. Kao was established in 1887 by Tomiro Nagase as a manufacturer of domestic toiletry soap. The company operates through four segments: Beauty Care Business, Human Health Care Business, Fabric and Home Care Business, and Chemical Business.
Business Lines: Beauty Care Business, Human Health Care Business, Fabric and Home Care Business, and Chemical Business
Founded: 1887
No.2 – Shiseido Company, Limited : 1T Yen
Shiseido Company, Limited is a Japanese multinational personal care company, that is a skin care, hair care, cosmetics and fragrance producer. Shiseido has a rich and vibrant history. More than merely a beauty brand, for over 145 years the company has produced timeless products and remains as a leader in the field of beauty and skin care.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Personal Care, Restaurant and Food Business, Salons Bsuiness
Founded: 1872
No.3 – KOSÉ Corporation : 303.4B Yen
KOSÉ Corporation is a Japanese multinational personal care company, whose products include cosmetics, skin care and hair care products. Kozaburo Kobayashi, who founded KOSÉ in 1946, poured his limitless passion into making cosmetics that give people dreams and hope.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Personal Care
Founded: 1946
No.4 – POLA Orbis Holdings Inc. : 244.3B Yen
POLA Orbis Holdings Inc. operates through two business segments which are beauty care and real estate buiness. The Beauty Care segment is engaged in research, manufacture and sale of cosmetics, health foods, as well as sales of fashion items including ladies’ underwear, women’s clothing and jewelry. Pola Orbis has cosmetic brands with strong and distinctive value: two basic brands “POLA” and “ORBIS”.
Business Lines: Beauty Care, Real Estate, Medical Business, Provision of Building Maintenance Services, Insurance Agency Business
Founded: 1929 (Pola Inc.)
No.5 – FANCL Corporation : 109.0B Yen
FANCL Corporation is a manufacturer of cosmetics and health foods headquartered in Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture, founded in 1980. The Company’s products include cleansing creams, hair care goods such as shampoos and conditioners, and facial make up products.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Health Foods
Founded: 1980
No.6 – Mandom Corporation : 81.4B Yen
Mandom Corporation is a cosmetics manufacturer headquartered in Osaka Prefecture, and mainly manufactures and develops men’s cosmetics such as men’s haircare products and facial skincare. Mandom Corporation is the leader in cosmetics for men in Japan, and its flagship brand is Gatsby.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Personal Care
Founded: 1927
No.7 – Pias Corporation : 58.6B Yen
Founded in 1947, Pias Corporation manufactures and sells beauty and health products, based in Osaka, and has offices in Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. It serves end-consumers and OEM customers primarily in Japan. The company offers a range of cosmetics for skin problems faced by adult women, such as atopic dermatitis and pimples.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Salons Business, Real Estate
Founded: 1947
No.8 – Noevir Holdings Co., Ltd. : 54.5B Yen
Noevir Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Kobe, engaged in the manufacture and sale of cosmetics, toiletries, pharmaceuticals and health foods, and those product are sold at Noevir’s own retail stores and online stores. Noevir Holdings operates in two business segments such as the cosmetics segment and the pharmaceuticals and foods segment.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals and Foods
Founded: 1964 (J.H. Okura & Co., Ltd.)
No.9 – Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co., Ltd. : 49.6B Yen
Nippon Menard Cosmetic Co., Ltd. founded in 1959, is a cosmetics company and health foods manufacturer based in Nagoya Prefecture. The company offers skincare products that include cleansing and massage creams, washing creams, emulsions, toners, liquid lotions, serums, day creams, night creams, eye creams, pre lotions, mask sheets, mist type lotions, and masks; makeup bases, foundations, lipsticks, face powders, eye colors, and lip colors; and perfumes.
Business Lines: Cosmetics, Golf Resort, Art Museum, Salons Business, Food Business
Founded: 1959
No.10 – Ci:z Holdings Co., Ltd. : 42.9B Yen
Ci:z Holdings Co., Ltd. was established as a parent company of Dr. Ci: Labo Co., Ltd. in 2015. The company develops, manufactures, and sells cosmetics, health foods, beauty care products, and other products in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, and internationally. Skincare cosmetics segment has three product categories such as Dr. Ci: Labo, Labo Labo and GENOMER.
Founder: Cosmetics, Health Food
Founded: 1999 (Dr. Ci:Labo Co., Ltd.)
Japan’s leading cosmetics companies TOP 10
TOP 10 Ranking
