Company History Timeline HISTORY
The history of Seiho dates back to 1805 when Seiho started as a dyestuff wholesaler. In Showa era (1926-1989), with the era of rapid economic growth and the development of the chemical industry, Seiho gradually transformed itself from a dyestuff wholeseller to a trading firm specializing in chemical products. And over its long business history, Seiho has built relationships of trust with many business partners. Seiho will continue to challenge further innovation while keeping the philosophy of "Always be innovative, Always be steady" at the core of its company management.
Year 1805
Kumanoya Heishiro
Kumanoya Heishiro came to Osaka from Toyama and founded Kumanoya, a shop of paints, dye's weed, and brushs/inks in Semba.
1873
Ichirobei Yamada (the first generation)
Kumanoya was renamed into Ichirobei Yamada Shop.
1876
Ichirobei Yamada (the 2nd generation)
Started also the sales of dyes, industrial goods, clays, and oils and fats.
▲Ichirobei Yamada (the 2nd generation)
1877
Started cotton trade with former British India, Annam (current Viet-Nam) and Dutch East India (current Indonesia and Malacca)
1912
Ichirobei Yamada Shop was reorganized into Yamada General Ppartnership Company.
1917
The Yamada Shoten Corporation was establised.
Capital of JPY 1 million
1924
Ichijiro Yamada
Ichijiro Yamada was appointed as president.
Yamada Shoten Corporation became general distributor of I.G. Dyestuff Industries (Germany) in Japan
1927
Became an exclusive distributor of Japan Dyestuffs Manufacturing Co. (Current Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd.)
1928
Became an exclusive distributor of Edogawa Kogyosho limited partnership company (current Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.)
Became an exclusive distributor of DKS Co. Ltd.
1930
Kishitaro Yamada
Kishitaro Yamada was appointed as president.
1931
Became an exclusive distributor of Asahi Glass Co., Ltd. (current AGC Inc.)
1934
1944
Following the consolidation of Japan Dyestuffs Manufacturing Co. and Sumitomo Chemical Industies Co. Ltd. (current Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.), Yamada Shoten Corporation became an exclusive distributor of Sumitomo Chemical Industies Co. Ltd.
1947
Ichiro Yamada
Ichiro Yamada was appounted as president
1965
Seiho Building completed.
The name Seiho originated from a building near the Saigoku Bridge over Yokobori River, which was the center of trade in western Japan. However, goku (国) of Saigoku (西国) was replaced by hou (邦) to form Seihou (西邦). 国 and 邦 hold similar meanings in Japanese.
▲Onishi Kunihashi Osaka City Library Collection
1970
Tokyo Branch opened
1971
Following the consolidation of Mitsubishi Edogawa Chemical Company, Ltd. and Japan Gas Chemical Industry Co., Seiho became an exclusive distributor of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
1973
Capital increased to JPY 10 million
1974
Company name was changed into Seiho Ltd.
1985
Ichio Yamada
Ichio Yamada was appointed as president.
1994
Became an exclusive distributor of Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corporation
1997
Capital increased to JPY 30M
2000
Capital increased to JPY 50M
2005
Celebretion Party for 200th anniversary of the company's foundation was held.
2006
Jun Takekoshi
Jun Takekoshi was appointed as president.
2009
Katsuhisa Yamada
Katsuhisa Yamada was appointed as president
2010
Became the general distributor of DEZA, a.s. (Czech Republic) in Japan
2013
Became the general distributor of PRECHEZA, a.s. (Czech Republic) in Japan
2016
Seiho was acknowledged as “Business Innovation Plan Approved Enterprise”.
2022
Seiho was acknowledged as “Business Innovation Plan Approved Enterprise” second time.