Our History

Yoneyama’s Milestones

Founder: Kojiro Mizuki

Left his birthplace of Higashiishikuro village (in present-day Nanto, Toyama prefecture) for Osaka in the spring of 1910 at the age of 17 or 18. Apprenticed at the Ueda Seiyaku pharmaceutical company (in Nakatsu). Transferred to the Matsuno Seiyakusho pharmacy (in Toyosaki), producing sulfuric and nitric acid. Established Yoneyama Yakukagaku Kojo, the forerunner of the present-day company.

Corporate emblemYakkōjirushi

The origin of this emblem is unknown, but it is thought to have been inspired by a stamp of a similar design on a papier maché tiger attached to bamboo grass provided as a charm against illness during a festival at the Sukunahikona Shrine in the Doshomachi area of Osaka (known as a center of pharmaceutical products).

1912 to 1926 (Taisho Era)

1918
Yoneyama Yakukagaku Kojo is established as partnership with Choji Yoneyama in former county of Nishinari, Osaka prefecture. Is later moved to Fukushima-ku (present-day Ohiraki) in city of Osaka.
Starts refining sulfuric acid, nitric acid and hydrochloric acid, and manufacturing and selling ammonia water, washing soda, caustic soda and other products.

1926 to 1989 (Showa Era)

1929
Partner Choji Yoneyama dies and the company comes under sole control of Kojiro Mizuki.
1932

Company is established and incorporated as Yoneyama Yakukagaku Kojo G.K.

(The Yoneyama name is perpetuated as a way to pay homage to the late partner and preserve the company’s founding spirit.)

1946
Kojiro Mizuki establishes Mizuki Seiyaku Kaisha, Ltd. to sell pharmaceutical products.
Kojiro Mizuki is appointed President & Director.
1948
Company changes name from Mizuki Seiyaku Kaisha, Ltd. to Yoneyama Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Kojiro Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
1949
Yoneyama Yakukagaku Kojo G.K. and Yoneyama Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. merge under the latter name.

Kojiro Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
1952
Yoshiji Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
1954
Nagoya Branch Office opens, expanding sales in Tokai, Chubu and Hokuriku markets.
1956
Tokyo Branch Office (present-day Tokyo Sales Office) opens, expanding sales in Kanto market.
1958
Company receives JIS display plant permit for organic/inorganic reagents from the Japanese Industrial Standards Committee, creating benefits for industry with its test reagents for use in analysis.
1962
Ashikaga Plant is created in the city of Ashikaga (Tochigi prefecture), expanding sales in Kanto market.
Starts producing sodium phosphate and ammonium phosphate.
1963
Kitahama Sales Office (present-day Osaka Sales Office) opens, augmenting Kansai area and expanding sales in Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu markets.
Ashikaga Plant starts producing ABC dry chemical fire-extinguishing agent.
1966
Ashikaga Plant starts producing ammonium acetate.
1967
Suita Kasei Kogyo KK is established.
1973
Headquarters and Osaka Sales Office are moved to Nishitenma in city of Osaka, while Osaka Plant is moved to city of Katano in Osaka prefecture.
1974
Koichi Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
1979
Osaka Plant expands production equipment for food additives and high-purity reagents.
1987
Ashikaga Sales Office opens, expanding sales in northern Kanto and Shinetsu markets.
1988
Ashikaga Plant starts large automatic continuous crystallization facility operation.

Initial company establishment

Yoneyama Chemical Industry in the late 1950s
(Fukushima-ku in city of Osaka)

1982
Phosphate facility at Osaka Plant

1988
Large automatic continuous crystallization facility at Ashikaga Plant

1989 to 2019 (Heisei Era)

1994
Ashikaga Plant expands production equipment for organic acid ammonium.
Osaka Plant starts producing organic acid salts.
1997
Yoshiaki Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
1998
Ashikaga Plant completes crystallization facility, expands production of organic acid ammonium salts.
1999
New product release: Melroad deicer
2001
Company acquires ISO 9001 certification (all business units).
2001
Naohide Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
2003
New product release: Losspee bottom material refining agent
2006
Changshu Yoneyama Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. is established in Changshu, Jiangsu province, China.
2010
Ashikaga Plant adds wastewater treatment facility storage tank in compliance with Water Pollution Prevention Act.
Environmental measures are later augmented at Osaka Plant and other sites.
2015
Osaka Plant completes new power kneader high-purity forced crystallization equipment.
2016
Osaka Plant starts high-mix, low-volume production.
Completes connectable/selectable CSCC crystallization equipment.
2018
Company marks its centennial.
2018
Nagoya Sales Office/Business Development Office is created.

Ammonia storage tank at Ashikaga Plant

2016
CSCC high-mix, low-volume production equipment at Osaka Plant

Reiwa 2019~

2019
Nagoya sales office opened in Naka-ku, Nagoya.
2021
Corporate Planning Department is created.
2021
Kohei Mizuki is appointed President & Representative Director.
2022
Organization of Sales Department is changed to 1st Group, 2nd Group, and Business Development Office.
2024
Business Development Office is reorganized into Future Creation Office.
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