Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1914 (Taisho 3) in Wakayama, our company aims to be a rooted enterprise and contributes to regional revitalization by actively participating in local activities.

Founders, including Asajiro Yura, established Yura Seiko Partnership Company.

Built Japan's first benzene distillation unit and succeeded in industrializing aniline.

Construction of the Kozaga Factory (now the Wakayama Factory).

Started manufacturing synthetic phenol.

Moved headquarters to Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

Established the Kyoto Research Institute.

Merged with Kyowa Denka Kogyo (formerly Yura Chemical Industry) Co., Ltd. to establish Yura Seiko Co., Ltd.

Daiichi Tsusho (now Mitsui & Co., Ltd.) invested capital.

Filed a corporate rehabilitation application with the Tokyo District Court.

Corporate rehabilitation proceedings commenced; Kazuo Nagasawa appointed trustee and Toshio Ono appointed trustee's deputy.

Asajiro Yura resigned as CEO; Kazuo Nagasawa appointed trustee, Toshio Ono deputy trustee; Takehito Zai appointed CEO; Fumijiro Urata and Akira Yura appointed directors; Yoshiyuki Kawamoto appointed auditor.

Asajiro Yura stepped down as president and CEO; Kazuichi Nagasawa appointed as trustee, Toshio Ono as acting trustee, Takeo Zai as president and CEO, Fumijiro Urata and Akira Yura as directors, and Yoshiyuki Kawamoto as auditor.

Started manufacturing diphenylamine.

Corporate rehabilitation plan approved.

Kazuo Nagasawa became the first president.

Company name changed to Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

Kazuichi Nagasawa appointed as the first president.

Conclusion of corporate rehabilitation proceedings decided.

Fumijiro Urata assumes the role of second president.

Partnered with Hürz of West Germany (now Germany) on benzene hydrogenation method cyclohexanone production technology.

Capital increase (post-increase capital of 27.5 billion yen).

Started production of cyclohexanone.

Started production of bisphenol A.

Listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

Capital increase (post-increase capital of 45 million yen).

Founder Yura Asajiro passed away.

Started production of hydroxy-3-methylphenol acid and rough BHT.

Started production of OSBP.

Started production of trimethylphenol.

Ichii Ansei became the third president (Fumijiro Urata became advisor and chairman).

Masao Ota became the fourth president.

Capital increase (post-increase capital of 50 billion yen).

Fumijiro Urata became the fifth president (returned from chairman).

Hisao Yagizawa became the sixth president.

Toshihiko Suehira became the seventh president.

Integrated the Kyoto Research Institute and the Wakayama plant research division, establishing the Comprehensive Research Institute.

Hisao Yagizawa became the eighth president (following the death of President Suehira).

Established a multi-purpose development plant.

Chitaro Suzuki became the ninth president.

Shunichi Fujiki appointed as the 10th President.

Bisphenol A business transferred to Mitsui Petrochemical Industries Co., Ltd. (now Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.).

Commenced production of photoresist materials.

Established new special bisphenol plant.

Commenced manufacturing of bisphenol and various bisphenol derivatives.

Established new metal-free plant.

Katsuo Mizunojo appointed as the 11th President.

Wakayama plant obtains ISO 9002 certification.

Bisphenol dedicated plant becomes operational.

Capital increase (post-increase capital 1.55 billion yen).

Wakayama plant obtains ISO 14001 certification.

Shin Togawa appointed as the 12th President.

Established joint venture Hi-Bis GmbH to commercialize special bisphenol business in Germany, in partnership with Bayer AG and Mitsui & Co., Ltd.

Established Bisphenol Plant 2.

Commencement of construction of Hi-Bis GmbH special bisphenol plant in Germany.

Toshihiko Takeo appointed as the 13th President.

Hi-Bis GmbH commences sales.

Hi-Bis GmbH (Hi-Bis Co.) commenced operations.

Yasuhiro Takeda appointed as the 14th President.

Closure of Osaka branch.

Expansion of Bisphenol F plant.

New BHT (oxidation inhibitor) plant established and production commenced.

Keiichi Sano appointed as the 15th president.

Japan's first benzene distillation unit was recognized as a "Modern Industrial Heritage" by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Riyuki Funakoshi appointed as the 16th president.

Hi-Bis GmbH (Hi-Bis Co.) expanded its special bisphenol plant.

Our company's 100th anniversary of founding.

Toshiyuki Ikusa appointed as the 17th president.

Yuuji Fukuyama appointed as the 18th president.

July 11: About 30 students, mainly first-year students from the Chemical Technology Department at Wakayama Prefectural Industrial High School.

July 28: About 30 students, mainly first-year students from the Systems Chemistry Department at Kihoku Prefectural Industrial High School.

September 13: About 50 students, mainly third-year students from the Environmental Applied Chemistry Department at Miyazaki University.

September 27: About 40 students, mainly second-year students from the Materials Engineering Department at Wakayama Industrial College of Technology.

In fiscal year 2018, we accepted four students from three schools and conducted workplace experiences in the manufacturing division and other areas.

※ In fiscal year 2020, marking the 10th anniversary, we had planned a community exchange event to coincide with the grass-cutting activity, but it was canceled due to COVID-19 prevention measures.

Delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.\nThe company became a group company with Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. as shareholders.

Delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange Second Section.

The company became a group company with Mitsui Chemicals Co., Ltd. and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. as shareholders.

Masayuki Kinoshita appointed as the 19th president.

Kenji Hiraoka appointed as the 20th president.

In fiscal year 2026, on August 1, the event was held and about 50 of our employees participated, enlivening the street dance.