Corporate History
- 1958
July Founded as Kokubo Shigeru Shoten.
- 1968
February Started manufacturing polyethylene rope by extrusion. Renamed the company Kokubo Gosen Kogyousho.
- 1987
March Started manufacturing hairbands. Introduced Shinae brand.
- 1988
January Started manufacturing hair accessories and small items. September Started manufacturing mesh liners and other home products. Introduced Dragon Mama brand. November Introduced Ribbon House houseware brand. Started manufacturing plastic household utensils.
- 1993
September Renamed the company Kokubo Kogyousho. Introduced Dr. Mother sanitaryware brand.
- 1996
January Introduced C-time facialcare brand. November Incorporated (with 10 million JPY in capital) and renamed the company Kokubo & Co,. Ltd. Created Houseware Unit and Healthcare Unit No. 2.
- 1998
May Increased capital to 15 million JPY. Created capital reserve of 10 million JPY.
- 2000
February Increased capital to 45 million JPY. April Opened Kyushu Office in Hakata-Ku, Fukuoka.
- 2002
January Establish Liclue Co,. Ltd. Developed and launched sales of underwear for skin allergies as cooperative project of business, government and academia in Wakayama.
February Increased capital to 60 million JPY.
April Increased capital to 185 million JPY.
- 2003
April Opened Tokyo Office in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.
- 2004
January Established Shanghai Liclue Co., Ltd. (with 3.01 million US$ in capital) as factory in Shanghai, China. October Started factory operations in Shanghai, China.
- 2005
July Made Kiyou Jochugiku Co., Ltd. a group company.
- 2009
May Established Liclue (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd. and started trade and wholesale operations in China.
- 2010
May Opened Germany Office in Frankfurt, Germany. August Decreased capital to 92.5 million JPY. September Established Kokubo USA, Inc. (with 250,000 US$ in capital). November Feted 100th year of business at Kiyou Jochugiku Co., Ltd.