Native name
|
株式会社資生堂 |
---|---|
Romanized name
|
Kabushiki-gaisha Shiseidō |
Public (K.K.) | |
Traded as | : OTCQX: OTCQX 30 component Topix large 70 component |
Industry | Consumer goods |
Founded | 1872 |
Headquarters | Chūō, Tokyo, Japan |
Key people
|
Shinzo Maeda, President and CEO (ending April 1, 2014) Late Masahiko Uotani, President and CEO (April 1, 2014-2016) |
Products | Cosmetics |
Revenue | ¥723,485 million (FY2007) |
¥35,460 million (FY2007) | |
Number of employees
|
33,356 (2013) |
Subsidiaries | Bare Escentuals Beaute Prestige International |
Website | shiseido.com |
Shiseido Company, Limited (株式会社資生堂 Kabushiki-gaisha Shiseidō?) (Japanese: [ɕiseeꜜdoː]) is a Japanese multinational personal care company, that is a skin care, hair care, cosmetics and fragrance producer. It is one of the oldest cosmetics companies in the world. Founded in 1872, it celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2012. It is the largest cosmetic firm in Japan and the fifth largest cosmetics company in the world. Shiseido is only available at cosmetic counters at selected department stores or pharmacists. The company owns numerous brands and subsidiaries worldwide, in addition to its founding label. The company trades on the Tokyo stock exchange, and it is a chief competitor of SK-II.
Arinobu Fukuhara, former head pharmacist to the Japanese Imperial Navy, established the Shiseido Pharmacy in 1872. After a visit to the United States and Europe, Arinobu added a soda fountain to the store. This later grew into the Shiseido Parlour restaurant business, and eventually led to the introduction of ice cream in Japan. The name "Shiseido" can be translated as "praise the virtues of the earth which nurtures new life and brings forth significant values".
Shiseido was the first to develop the softening lotion, a lightweight liquid of toner-like consistency. The oldest softening lotion is named Eudermine, which is still marketed and sold at all Shiseido counters. The softening lotion was developed in response to lead poisoning, as the Japanese women used makeup based on white lead.