| 1887 |
Founded as a cotton trading company in Tokyo. |
| 1906 |
Commencement of silk thread production. |
| 1936 |
Debut of 'Savon de Soie', a luxury soap produced from silk. |
| 1937 |
Entry into the field of cosmetics. |
| 1951 |
Release of a hydrophilic cold cream. |
| 1958 |
Establishment of the Comprehensive Research Centre. |
| 1961 |
Full-scale entry in the cosmetics market with establishment of 14 sales companies throughout Japan.
Start of overseas business operations with launch in Hong Kong. |
| 1962 |
Establishment of Beauty Research Institute. |
| 1965 |
Opening of the Paris Laboratory. |
| 1969 |
Commencement of operations at the Odawara plant.Launches in Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. |
| 1976 |
Establishment of Kanebo Cosmetics Educational Center. |
| 1979 |
Launch in Europe with start of sales at the Harrods Department Store in London. |
| 1980 |
Foundation of Kanebo Cosmetics (Europe) Ltd. Sales expand to Switzerland, France, Germany, and Austria. |
| 1984 |
Release of LADY 80 BIO LIPSTICK, a hit product incorporating advanced biotechnology. |
| 1986 |
Exhibition of LADY 80 BIO LIPSTICK, at the Science Museum in London. |
| 1987 |
Entry into the Chinese market. |
| 1991 |
Release of long-lasting lipsticks from T'ESTIMO.
A hit product sold 5 million pieces a year. |
| 1997 |
Expansion to the Middle Eastern markets from Saudi Arabian base. |
| 1998 |
Odawara plant, Cosmetics Laboratory and Basic Research Laboratory obtain ISO 14001 certification. |
| 1999 |
Foundation of Kanebo Cosmetics U.S.A. Inc. and Kanebo Cosmetics Italy S.P.A. |
| 2000 |
Completion of new factory at Shanghai in China. Start of production of AQUA, a brand exclusively for the Chinese market Launch in Bergdorf Goodman, New York. |
| 2001 |
Establishment of the joint venture company Kanebo Cosmetics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. |
| 2003 |
Business expanded to eight countries in Eastern Europe. |
| 2004 |
Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. established in May as an independent company after separation from Kanebo Ltd. |
| 2005 |
Foundation of Kanebo Cosmetics (China) Co., Ltd. Entry into upscale pharmacy distribution in China. |
| 2006 |
Incorporated into the Kao Group. |
| 2009 |
Enlargement of Shanghai factory.
Increase of annual production capacity by 150%. Establishment of Kanebo Cosmetics Rus LLC in Russia.
Oversea operation reached 52 countries and areas with entry in Belarus. |
