In 1914 (Taisho 3), Iwakura Taro Store (Honshicho 4-chome) was founded as a wholesale drug distributor. It began wholesale to pharmacies and also started wholesaling pharmaceutical raw materials around this time.
1914 (Taisho 3): Founded Yakushū Wholesaler, Iwaki Jirō Shop
Iwakicho Taro Store (Hon-Ishicho 4-chome): Founded as a drugstore wholesaler; began wholesale to pharmacies and pharmaceutical raw materials around this time
Founded drug wholesaler, Iwaki City Taro Store
In 1923 (Taisho 12), the store was completely destroyed by the Great Kanto Earthquake.
Store was completely burned down due to the Great Kanto Earthquake
In 1931 (Showa 6), a new three-story wooden mortar building was constructed. The joint-stock company Iwakura Pharmaceutical Works (later Iwakura Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) was established, and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical raw materials began.
Founded Iwaki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (now Iwaki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) in 1931
Constructed a new three-story wooden and mortar store: Established Iwaki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (later Iwaki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.): Began manufacturing pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical raw materials
In 1933 (Showa 8), Iwakura Pharmaceutical Works established a plant in Kamata.
Established Kamata Factory of Iwaki Pharmaceutical
Opened Osaka Branch Office in 1937
Established Osaka Branch Office
Established Iwaki Yakuhin Co., Ltd. in 1939 (absorbed in December 1986)
Established Iwaki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (absorbed in December 1986)
In 1941 (Showa 16), the company was renamed to 'Iwakura Shoten Co., Ltd.' as a corporate organization. This year saw the outbreak of World War II.
Renamed Iwaki Shoten to Iwaki Shoten Co., Ltd. in 1941
Renamed as Iwaki Shoten Co., Ltd.: The year saw the outbreak of World War II
Established partnership Iwaki Pharmaceutical
Renamed Iwaki City Taro Store to Iwaki Store Corporation
In 1945 (Showa 20), the Kamata plant of Iwakura Pharmaceutical Works was destroyed by fire. This year witnessed the Tokyo air raids and intensified bombing.
Kamata Factory of Iwaki Pharmaceutical was destroyed by fire: The year also saw the Tokyo air raids and intensified air raids
In 1946 (Showa 21), the Kamata plant of Iwakura Pharmaceutical Works was rebuilt.
Rebuilt Kamata Factory of Iwaki Pharmaceutical
In 1948 (Showa 23), Iwakura Pharmaceutical Works was renamed to Iwakura Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Iwakura Taro became president.
Renamed as Iwaki Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.: Taro Iwaki became president
In 1950 (Showa 25), began handling imported pharmaceutical raw materials.
Started handling imported pharmaceutical raw materials
In 1951 (Showa 26), began handling chemicals.
Started handling chemicals
Opened Fukuoka Branch Office in 1953
Fukuoka Branch Office Established
Opened Toyama Branch Office in 1955
Toyama Branch Office Established
In 1959 (Showa 34), began handling food raw materials.
Started handling food raw materials
In 1960 (Showa 35), established Japan Metal Finishing Company (later Mertex Co., Ltd.) through a Japan-US joint venture, and began manufacturing surface treatment chemicals.
In 1960 (Showa 35), a five-story building was completed.
Established Japan Metal Finishing Company (later Meltex Co., Ltd.) through a Japan-U.S. joint venture: Began manufacturing surface treatment chemicals
Completion of a five-story building
In 1962 (Showa 37), Iwakura Kentaro became president.
Kenji Iwaki became president in 1962
Kenjiro Iwaki assumed the position of president
Kenjiro Iwaki Assumed the Position of President
In 1963 (Showa 38), renamed to 'Iwakura Co., Ltd.', listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and began handling cosmetic raw materials.
Changed trade name to Iwaki Co., Ltd. in 1963
Renamed as Iwaki Corporation: Listed on the Second Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange: Started handling cosmetic raw materials
Company Name Changed to Iwaki Co., Ltd.
1964 (Showa 39): Events of the year: Tokyo Olympics held
Listed on the Second Section of the Osaka Securities Exchange in 1964 (delisted in January 2004)
Listed on the Osaka Securities Exchange Second Section (Delisted in January 2004)
1965 (Showa 40): Capital participation in Boen Chemical Co., Ltd.; started manufacturing food ingredients; Iwaki Pharmaceutical's Shizuoka plant completed
Established Bowen Chemical Co., Ltd. in 1965
Participation in Bowen Chemical Co., Ltd. Capital investment begins in food raw material manufacturing: Iwaki Pharmaceutical, Shizuoka Factory completed
Boeing Chemical Co., Ltd. Established
1971 (Showa 46): Iwaki Pharmaceutical's Shizuoka plant completed
1981 (Showa 56): Started handling functional foods
Start handling functional foods
1986 (Showa 61): Japan Metal Finishing renamed to Merutex Co., Ltd.
Absorbed Iwaki Yakuhin Co., Ltd. in 1986
Japan Metal Finishing renamed to "Mertex Corporation"
Merged with Iwaki Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.
1989 (Heisei 1): Iwaki Co., Ltd. headquarters building completed
Completed head office building in 1989
Iwaki Corporation headquarters building completed
Head Office Building Completed
1992 (Heisei 4): Mature period 'Most Admired Company'
1994 (Heisei 6): Ken'ataro Iwaki became chairman; Shū Iwaki became president
Shu Iwaki became president in 1994
Kentarō Iwaki appointed as Chairman, Osamu Iwaki as President
Shu Iwaki Assumed the Position of President
2000 (Heisei 12): Apuros Co., Ltd. established; started manufacturing and selling cosmetics
Established Apross Co., Ltd. in 2000
Apros Corporation established: Cosmetics manufacturing and sales start: Apros Corporation established, cosmetics manufacturing and sales start
Apros Co., Ltd. Established
2005 (Heisei 17): Designated as First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange
Designated on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2005
Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange
Designated on the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section
In 2010, Mertex Co., Ltd., Tokai Mertex Co., Ltd., and others
Mertex Co., Ltd., Tokai Mertex Co., Ltd., and Tokyo Chemical Machinery Co., Ltd. Became Consolidated Subsidiaries
2011 (Heisei 23): Merutex Co., Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary; Great East Japan Earthquake occurred
Mertex Corporation fully acquired: Major events of the year: Great East Japan Earthquake occurred
Made Mertex Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary through share exchange
2012 (Heisei 24): Merutex Asia Thailand established; overseas production started
Mertex Asia Thailand established, began overseas production
2014 (Heisei 26): 100th anniversary of founding
Held 50th anniversary celebration at Sankei Hall in 2014
Held 100th anniversary appreciation event at Hotel New Otani in 2014
100th anniversary of founding
100th Anniversary Appreciation Event (at Hotel New Otani)
2017 (Heisei 29): Shū Iwaki became chairman; Keitarō Iwaki became president
Keitaro Iwaki became president in 2017
Kentarō Iwaki appointed as Chairman, Osamu Iwaki as President
Keitaro Iwaki Assumed the Position of President
2020 (Reiwa 2): Spela Pharma Co., Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary; Iwaki Pharmaceutical Sakura Factory Co., Ltd. became a grandchild company; Iwaki Split Preparation Co., Ltd. (now Iwaki Co., Ltd.) established; Spela Nexus Co., Ltd. established; Maruman H&B Co., Ltd. became a wholly-owned subsidiary
Made Sperapharm Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary in 2020
Fully acquired Sperapharma Co., Ltd.: Subsidiarized Iwaki Pharmaceutical Sakura Factory Co., Ltd.: Established Iwaki Segmentation Preparation Co., Ltd. (now Iwaki Co., Ltd.): Established Speranexus Co., Ltd.: Fully acquired Maruman H&B Co., Ltd.
Made Spelapharma Co., Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary
2021 (Reiwa 3): Astena Heartful Co., Ltd. established; JITSUBO Co., Ltd. became a grandchild company; former Iwaki Co., Ltd. renamed to Astena Holdings Co., Ltd. and started a holding company structure; part of headquarters functions moved to Ishikawa Prefecture, Noto City; O-Noto SDGs Investment Business LLC (Noto SDGs Fund) established; Iwaki Comprehensive Research Institute Co., Ltd. renamed to Astena Minerva Co., Ltd.
Founded Astena Heartful Co., Ltd. in 2021 (Reiwa 3)
Established Astena Heartful Co., Ltd.: Subsidiarized JITSUBO Co., Ltd.: Changed the trade name of the former Iwaki Co., Ltd. to Astena Holdings Co., Ltd., starting a holding company system: Moved some headquarters functions to Suzu City, Ishikawa Prefecture: Established Noto SDGs Investment Business Limited Partnership (Noto SDGs Fund): Changed the trade name of Iwaki General Research Institute to Astena Minerva Co., Ltd.
Astena Heartful Co., Ltd. Established
Company Name Changed to Astena Holdings Co., Ltd.
2022 (Reiwa 4): Moved to Prime Market of Tokyo Stock Exchange; AinZ Lab Co., Ltd. became a grandchild company; Ishikawa Zukan Co., Ltd. became a grandchild company; PIXTURE Co., Ltd. established
Moved from the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange to the Prime Market in 2022 (Reiwa 4)
Moved to Prime Market of Tokyo Stock Exchange: Subsidiarized Ainz Lab Co., Ltd.: Subsidiarized Ishikawa Wazukan Co., Ltd.: Established PIXTURE Co., Ltd.
Transitioned from the Tokyo Stock Exchange First Section to the Prime Market
2023 (Reiwa 5): AM Trading Co., Ltd. established; TUAT No.1 Investment Business LLC (TUAT Fund) established
Established AM Trading Co., Ltd. (now NAIA Corporation) in 2023 (Reiwa 5)
Established AM Trading Co., Ltd.: Established TUAT No. 1 Investment Business Limited Partnership (TUAT Fund)
AM Trading Co., Ltd. established (now NAIA Co., Ltd.)
2024 (Reiwa 6): Tomo Setoguchi became president
Setoguchi Satoshi assumed the position of president in 2024 (Reiwa 6)
Seetoguchi Tomonari appointed as President
President Tomo Setoguchi appointed
Celebrating 110th anniversary of founding
Celebrated the 110th anniversary of founding in 2025 (Reiwa 7)
Ikeda Bussan Group consolidated as a subsidiary
NAIA made its first appearance at Biople FES OSAKA 2026, held at Hankyu Umeda Main Store from September 16 to 20, 2026. The booth showcased products utilizing Noto materials, and about 1,000 people participated in a tasting of Raphma tea. Raphma tea and Noto Hiba bath salt received a response exceeding expectations, selling out almost completely.
Maruman H&B Co., Ltd. held a launch event for the Torriden brand renewal and new CM on August 28, 2026. At the event, the new CM for the Dive In Series, titled 'Innovation & Moisture DIVE', was unveiled for the first time, and the CM song featured the new track 'So Honey' by King & Prince. Brand ambassador Kaito Takahashi appeared and spoke about the filming experience and his feelings toward the brand.
Korean skincare brand Torriden held its first pop-up store since its brand renewal, Torriden DEEP DIVE IN Express, in Omotesando from August 30 to September 27, 2026. The immersive space, modeled on a train and station, let visitors experience the new concept, and products were sold ahead of their official release. The event attracted many visitors.
The January 1, 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake caused severe damage in Suzu. After witnessing outages of electricity, water and gas, the Astena Group established a local base and supported the initial recovery. It has continued providing supplies and helping restore infrastructure, and remains committed to Suzu's renewal and future.
Iwaki cooperated with the medical drama 'First Cry: Maternal and Child Emergency Rescue Team' and provided the medical device 'Neoguard+ NS30' that monitors the movements of newborns and infants.
Maruman H&B held a 'Pureal' themed POP UP STORE at Shibuya MODI in June 2026, allowing visitors to experience the brand's world view, which promoted many visitors and SNS posts, successfully increasing brand recognition and purchase promotion.
Six students from Ibi River Junior High School in Gifu Prefecture visited the Astena Group Tokyo headquarters as part of their school trip and learned about the significance of working and the role of companies.
Asta Group's Maruman H&B appointed Ria Nakamura as the new brand ambassador for 'Pureal' in 2026, and held a press conference for the TV commercial production.
Astena Group participated in the spring and summer gift packaging work for the Cosme Bank Project, collaborating to deliver approximately 7,600 cosmetics to women in difficult situations across the country.
Asten Group contributed to the community by participating in Chuo Ward Clean Day with 11 employees engaging in cleaning activities.