Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd.

History

Year	Detail
1935	Yakult was established by Dr. Minoru Shirota in Japan.
1940	Local offices of the Association for Promotion of Preventive Bacteria Strain Shirota are established in various parts of Japan for the purpose of marketing and distributing Yakult.
1955	Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd. was established (Nishi Hatchobori, Chuo-ku, Tokyo), and the Research Institute was established in Kyoto.
1963	Yakult launches its unique Yakult Lady home delivery system.
1964	Yakult Taiwan Co., Ltd. begins operations as the company’s first overseas operation base.
1967	The research institute is established in Kunitachi, Tokyo (later known as Yakult Central Institute).
1968	The company has been introduced to the market in a new plastic container.
1970	Yakult Honsha introduced Joie fermented milk to the market.
1971	The company begins the full-scale sale of cosmetics.
1975	Biolactis Capsules, an ethical drug, is introduced to the healthcare industry, thereby marking Yakult's entrance into the pharmaceutical business.
1978	Yakult Honsha has introduced Mil-Mil bifidobacteria-fermented milk to the market.
1979	Yakult Seichoyaku intestinal regulator, an over-the-counter medicine, is introduced to the healthcare industry.
1980	Company stocks are listed in the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Toughman is introduced to the market.
1981	Company stocks are listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
1989	The company had launched the Revecy S.E. Series in the market.
1992	Yakult Bioscience Research Foundation is established.
1994	The manufacture of irinotecan hydrochloride, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent, is approved, and the drug is introduced to the healthcare industry under the brand name Campto.
1995	Parabio Series premium-quality skincare product line is introduced to the market.
1998	Yakult is approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for labeling as Foods for Specified Health Uses. Yakult Bansoreicha is introduced to the market.
1999	Yakult Honsha launched the Yakult 400 fermented milk drink in the market.
2004	The company had entered into a strategic alliance with Groupe Danone.
2005	Research center is established in Europe (Belgium) and Oxaliplatin, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, is approved under the name of Elplat.
2006	The name of Yakult’s cosmetics brand has been changed to Yakult Beautiens.
2011	The three-dimensional trademark for Yakult containers is recognized.
2012	Yakult launches the Yakult Space Discovery Project.
2013	Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota obtains GRAS Certification from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration). New Yakult and New Yakult Calorie Half are introduced to the market.
2019	Yakult Honsha launched the Yakult 1000 in the seven prefectures of the Kanto region.
2020	The head office is relocated to Kaigan, Minato-ku, Tokyo.
2021	Yakult 1000 and Yakult 400W is launched nationwide in Japan.
2022	The company's shares are listed on Prime Market following the reorganization of stock market categories by the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2023	Yakult Honsha launched products for companion animals (pets) using Yakult's unique galacto-oligosaccharide.